The Chief Medical officer has issued the first Covid warning as we head into the winter months and case numbers jump.
Professor Breda Smyth has said the public needs to “be prepared” for a return of mass Covid infection as hospitals work to get ready for what will likely be an “extremely busy period.”
In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Professor Smyth confirmed: "There were 405 confirmed Covid-19 cases in hospital this morning, which has increased by 23 percent from 329 cases last week on 28 September and by 74 percent from 233 cases on 14 September.
READ MORE: Officials sound Covid alarm in Ireland after significant rise in cases amid new obvious symptom
"We have seen an average of 60 new Covid-19 hospitalisations per day observed in the last seven days.
"Not all Covid-19 cases in hospital have been admitted due to their infection, but every additional Covid positive patient adds to the strain on our hospital system as we enter what is expected to be an extremely busy period."
While case numbers begin to grow, the public is also being urged to book their booster vaccines "as soon as you are eligible.”
She went on to say: "As of 27 September, approximately 70 percent of cases hospitalised for Covid-19 were aged 65 years and older, and of these, more than one in four had not completed their primary Covid-19 vaccine course and approximately two in five had not yet received any booster vaccine.”
She said scientific data continues to show that over time, the effectiveness of the Covid vaccine wanes and therefore it is imperative to keep up to date with your vaccine schedule.
"The HSE has begun to administer Covid-19 booster vaccines and flu vaccines,” Professor Smyth advised.
"This is a great opportunity to top-up the protection Covid-19 vaccines offer while also receiving protection from the flu virus. Flu and Covid-19 vaccines are available from participating GPs and Pharmacies and can be given at the same time.
“If you have not yet received a primary dose of Covid-19 vaccine, you can arrange to do so while also getting your flu vaccine.
For now, anyone who develops Covid-19 symptoms is asked to stay at home and self-isolate. You should not attend school, work, college, or any social events while you have active symptoms.
Smyth added: "If you have any symptoms of Covid-19 it is important that you self-isolate until 48 hours after symptoms have substantially or fully resolved.
"Please, do not attend any social events, work, school or college if you have symptoms."
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