The Chief Medical Officer has warned that Ireland is on the cusp of a fourth wave of Covid-19, driven by the delta variant.
The variant now accounts for more than half of cases in the country, up from less than 30 per cent in the space of a week.
NPHET is particularly concerned about the rate of growth in areas such as Dublin, Donegal, Sligo and Waterford.
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It says cases are mainly being seen in unvaccinated and partially vaccinated people.