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A further 1,978 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in the State on Friday evening.
As of 8am, there were 221 patients in hospital with the virus, of whom 43 were in ICU, according to the latest figures released by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet).
In a statement, deputy chief medical officer Ronan Glynn warned of the rising incidence rate of the disease across the Republic.
“We have reported over 10,000 cases in the last week and, while we have very high incidence across Donegal, Monaghan, Mayo, Galway, Roscommon, Louth and Cavan in particular, incidence is rising across all 26 counties,” said Dr Glynn.
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“In addition, while incidence is particularly high in those aged 16-29 years, incidence is now rising across all age groups.”
While vaccination has positively impacted the number of cases ending up in hospital or critical care, Dr Glynn said the increasing incidence rate will result in a “significant number” of people becoming very ill with Covid.
“At the peak of the second wave in October we had 47 people in critical care. Today we have 43, with 8 new admissions in the last 24 hours,” said Dr Glynn.
Dr Glynn urged people to follow public health advice and to risk-assess plans for socialising during the coming weekend.
“Try to meet up in small groups, meet outdoors and avoid crowds if possible. Wear a mask where appropriate, wash your hands, manage your contacts and maintain your social distance,” said Dr Glynn.
“If you are in an environment that feels unsafe then leave.”
The Department of Public Health Mid West on Friday expressed concern over a “sudden increase” in Covid-19 cases in Limerick and North Tipperary over the past seven days, which it said was “connected to widespread community transmission”.
On Thursday, 85 cases were recorded in the region, the highest since June 11th. A department spokesman said it had identified 824 cases in the region over the past 14 days, the majority in Limerick (515); Clare (183); and North Tipperary (126).
“The vast majority of new cases have multiple exposures and close contacts, rendering the management and investigation of new infections more resource-intensive. This means that our ability to map the disease is becoming more difficult,” the spokesman said.
Vaccine
Meanwhile, some 71,000 young people aged 12-15 are now registered to receive a Covid-19 vaccine.
Earlier on Friday, HSE chief executive Paul Reid said Ireland's overall uptake for Covid-19 vaccines had been "phenomenal," with 6.82 million vaccine doses administered so far.
Some 80 per cent of adults were now fully inoculated, while 90 per cent were partially vaccinated.
The majority of 12- to 15-year-olds that had been signed up to receive the vaccine had been registered using the HSE’s online portal, with a small number registered through a HSE call centre.
The cohort will begin to receive their first doses this weekend, as Mr Reid said health officials “want the job done rapidly”.
Vaccination centres would also open for evening clinics, to facilitate parents bringing children for their vaccines after work, he told RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland.
The vaccination portal for the 12- to 15-year-old group opened on Wednesday night, with 50,000 of the cohort registering over the first day.
“What we have seen as we move down through the younger ages is not an immediate uptake on the first day or two or three, but a strong uptake over a period of a week or two weeks,” said Mr Reid.
“That’s been reflected in 16- to 17-year-olds, and now almost 70 per cent of them have registered. Similarly with the 18- to 29-year-olds, over 80 per cent,” he said.
The 12- to 15-year-old age group is to receive mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer or Moderna, which both require two doses several weeks apart.
At least one parent or legal guardian is required to give consent for the child to receive the vaccine.
Mr Reid warned the numbers in hospitals with the virus could rise to 400 during this current wave, as there was a lag effect between spikes in new cases and increases in hospitalisations.
Scenario planning for the rollout of a Covid-19 vaccine booster campaign had begun, but the HSE will await guidance from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee and chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan.
Mr Reid said there was a “hugely compelling argument” for sharing vaccines with developing countries, which the Government had committed to doing through an EU process.
Discussing the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, Mr Reid said: “We would have supply lines [of AstraZeneca] due to come through in August and on into September which we aren’t currently administering . . . practically we have been through the utilisation of AstraZeneca vaccines – so that is a consideration for the Government.”
Northern Ireland
The deaths of four people with Covid-19 were reported in Northern Ireland on Friday. One of the fatalities occurred in the previous 24-hour reporting period and the remainder before then.
A further 1,389 new cases of the virus were confirmed.
A total of 359 people were receiving hospital treatment for the virus in the North on Friday, with 44 in intensive care.