 
                                    Almost 40,000 people in the Republic tested positive since Christmas Day
The Covid-19 Omicron variant is now "rampant" in Ireland - that's according to an infectious disease expert.
The comment comes as almost 40,000 people, in the Republic of Ireland, tested positive for the virus since Christmas Day.
There has been an increase in the number of people with Covid-19 in the Irish hospital system.
568 patients are being treated for the disease in hospital, an increase of 47 since yesterday, 28th December.
There are 93 patients in intensive care units across the country, this is an increase of 1 on the previous 24 hours.
Professor Jack Lambert says rising case numbers are to be expected:

 
                                         
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