Here's A Reminder Of Today's Covid Headlines
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Ireland has been classified as a 'red' country by the European Centre for Disease Control due to our high 14-day incidence rate and test positivity.
The Department of Health reported 1,997 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 today.
There are 324 people in hospital - down two on yesterday - while 61 people are being treated in ICU.
The 14-day incidence rate currently stands at in excess of 520 cases per 100 thousand of the population.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan, says our levels of transmission are too high.
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The Taoiseach says nothing has been decided about the future of the National Public Health Emergency Team.
Micheál Martin was speaking in Crosshaven following reports that NPHET will be wound down in October, as the country moves into the next phase of the pandemic.
A full cabinet meeting will take place on Tuesday and it's widely expected a roadmap for the full lifting of restrictions will be announced that evening.
Speaking to RedFM News in Crosshaven in the past hour, Taoiseach Micheál Martin says any decisions about NPHET will be made next week
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Publicans and the GAA have been urged to insist on patrons behaving responsibly, as crowds gather in Dublin City for the All-Ireland Football semi final this afternoon.
Tyrone and Kerry battle it out for the right to take on Mayo in the final...with 25,000 allowed to attend.
It's suspected thousands have travelled to the capital for the match, with pubs expected to be busy.
Following the scenes of large crowds gathering before and after last week's All Ireland Hurling final, when Gardai had to close a number of pubs down, Indepdent Cllr. Mannix Flynn says that there can't be a repeat today.
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Employers are being advised to take a tentative approach when welcoming workers back to offices.
Yesterday, the Taoiseach said a timelines for the further reopening of society will be announced next week.
The current advice from government is for people to work from home unless they need to attend in person.
Future of Work Consultant, Kevin Empey, says some employees may be nervous about going back into the office.
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A new UK study says people infected with the Delta variant of Covid-19 - first reported in India, are twice as likely to need hospital treatment than those with the Alpha strain - which was first detected in England.
Researchers looked at more than 43-thousand cases in England, between March and May.
They say their findings highlight the importance for people to get the vaccine.
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A US review looking into the origins of coronavirus has come back as inconclusive.
Intelligence agencies can't agree on whether Covid-19 was leaked from a lab - or developed naturally.
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