Almost 1 in 4 close contacts are testing positive for Covid-19 since testing resumed at the end of last month, according to the Taoiseach.
Micheal Martin told his party last night it compares to a positivity rate of 11 per cent previously, and demonstrates the impact of the UK variant.
He also indicated the country's to remain in a "prolonged" period of restrictions to get numbers to a very low level.
A further 1,006 new Covid-19 cases were announced last night, along with 54 deaths.
Meanwhile 990 patients are in public hospitals with the virus, the first time it has been below 1,000 in more than a month - while 167 are in ICU.
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