Coronavirus: ‘Too early’ to know if new Covid-19 strain is in Ireland
It is “too early” to know if a new strain of coronavirus confirmed in Britain has emerged in Ireland, the deputy chief medical officer has said.
Dr Ronan Glynn said Irish public health officials only received formal notification of the new Covid-19 strain on Monday, at the same time as the UK government publicly announced the news.
Dr Glynn also confirmed two further deaths and 264 new cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in the Republic, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in the State to 2,126.
The latest figures show 215 Covid-19 patients are in hospital, with 33 in intensive care.
Counties Donegal and Kilkenny have the highest infection rates in the State.
In Donegal, the 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 population is 225.5 and in Kilkenny it stands at 199.5. The lowest rate is in Leitrim at 25.
