A consultant in infectious diseases says the number of Covid patients in hospital could continue to rise, despite falling case numbers.
Yesterday, the Department of Health confirmed 1,144 further cases of the virus, down 36 on the day before.
There are 384 Covid patients in hospital - an increase of 18 in 24 hours - of whom 59 are in intensive care.
Yesterday, some pandemic restrictions were eased as children and students return to classrooms.
Dr Eoghan deBarra, Consultant in Infectious Diseases in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, says hospital figures could continue to rise in the coming weeks.
"The falling case numbers is great news, hopefully it continues to be the trend.
"There's increased social mobility about to happen this week and next week, and there's always a delay.
"It takes at least two weeks for that impact of that social mobility to result in case numbers, and it takes another two weeks for that to result in illness enough for people to present at hospital."
