The Chief Medical Officer says there is significant concern over the increasing number of people in hospital with Covid-19.
It comes as 2,125 news cases of covid-19 were reported today with 259 patients in hospital with the virus.
While there 54 people currently in ICU.
Dr Tony Holohan says the number of newly confirmed cases in hospital in the last 24 hours has reached a level not seen since mid-February.
He is urging those who have not yet been vaccinated to do so as soon as possible.
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Fresh calls are being made for the urgent re-opening of the arts and entertainment industry.
NPHET is already on record saying the reopening of schools and colleges is a priority over restarting the entertainment sector.
However the artistic director at Cork's Everyman Theatre says the sector will die unless a roadmap for reopening is agreed.
It comes as it was announced that the industry won't have a roadmap for reopening until the end of the month.
Sophie Motley from the Everyman, says while she understands schools and colleges need to re-open safely, access to arts and culture is vital too.
She told RedFM News that the Everyman can open and operate safely.
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The head of the HSE says they won't leave anyone behind in the final stages of the Covid-19 vaccination rollout.
Walk-in centres were operating in 19 areas today - and Paul Reid says it's never too late to get the jab.
People can turn up without an appointment to receive either the first or second dose of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
Damian McCallion, the HSE's national lead for the vaccination rollout, says they've targetted the clinics at certain areas.
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City Hall will be open for walk-ins from 11am to 2pm tomorrow.
Individuals aged 16 or older can get their first or second Pfizer doses at the walk-in clinic.
People hoping to get their second dose today must have had their first dose at least 21 days ago - specifically before the 2nd August.
They are asked to bring their vaccination cards with them.
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A senior member of NPHET says the country's facing "a large wave" of Covid-19 infection due to the number of people who're yet to be vaccinated.
Philip Nolan, who chairs NPHET's modelling group, says 25 percent of adults are yet to be fully protected, with 75 percent currently two weeks after their final dose.
He says incidence rates are now rising in older vaccinated adults and in children due to "very high" levels in young unvaccinated or partially vaccinated adults.
UCC Professor of Immunovirology, Liam Fanning, says younger people are the drivers of the disease.
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The Irish Kidney Association has welcomed clarity from Beaumont Hospital on the status of unvaccinated patients on transplant waiting lists.
Senior doctors at the hospital had recommended earlier this month that anyone not vaccinated against Covid couldn't receive a transplant.
The hospital has now clarified its stance - saying no patient, vaccinated or not, would be removed from the list.
Carol Moore, chief executive of the Irish Kidney Association, says a risk assessment will be carried out before any procedure.
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Over 200 people have been arrested and six police officers hospitalised during an anti-lockdown protest in Melbourne.
Thousands of unmasked demonstrators clashed with officers on the streets of the Australian city earlier.
Footage posted online shows protesters throwing objects at police and letting off flares.
It comes after it was announced Melbourne's lockdown would be extended across the entire state of Victoria to tackle rising Covid infection rates.
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45 cases of the more transmisible Delta-plus variant of Covid-19 have been identified in Ireland.
The figure was revealed in the latest update from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, in its update on variants of concern.
The strain, which's worrying health authorities, is an offshoot of the already highly-infectious mutation which is dominant here.
Yesterday the country recorded more than 2,000 daily covid infections for the second time in a week, bringing the total weekly figure to roughly 10,000.
UCC virus expert, Professor Liam Fanning, says the high number of cases are problematic.
