LATEST: Rise in Covid hospital cases as booster programme opens for over 16s
A further 17,071 people have contracted Covid-19, the Department of Health confirmed today.
There has also been an increase in the number of people with the virus in hospital, but case numbers in intensive care units remain stable.
Latest figures show there were 717 people with the virus in hospitals around the country this morning, up 61 on yesterday.
Of these, 87 people are in ICUs with Covid-19, an increase of two.
The latest cases come after the Covid-19 vaccine booster programme opened to all remaining cohorts aged 16 and older from this morning.
Following changes announced on Friday evening, the Health Service Executive (HSE) invited people aged 16 to 29 who have already completed their primary course of Covid-19 vaccine to come forward for their booster dose.
