HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE reported 6,284 PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.

In addition, 9,735 people registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal.

It brings the combined total of Covid-19 cases reported today to 16,019.

As of 8am this morning, 1,047 patients with Covid-19 were in hospital, including 42 in ICU.

Yesterday, the Department of Health reported 11,975 PCR-positive cases and 19,915 positive antigen tests that had been reported since Friday. 

There were 1,042 patients with Covid-19 in hospital, including 42 in ICU.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre said yesterday that the PCR-positive case numbers from Sunday were “artificially low” due to a technical issue.

It said these figures would be included in the data released today. 

The HSE has appealed to people to consider other options if possible before attending emergency departments over the upcoming bank holiday weekend. 

More than 28,347 patients attended emergency departments last week, the highest on record.

The health service said that while the number of patients in ICU has remained stable, the impact of the “recent steady rise” in hospital admissions is “extremely challenging”.

It said this is “placing significant pressure on Emergency Departments and patient waiting times for admission to hospitals”. 

Latest figures show there are 101 Covid-19 outbreaks in hospitals and 595 outbreaks across community care services including nursing homes.

“As always Emergency Departments will continue to see and treat patients who require urgent and emergency treatment first,” the health service said.