Omicron now the dominant Covid-19 strain in Ireland

A further 5,124 confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been notified in Ireland.

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, said it had taken only two weeks for Omicron to become dominant in Ireland (Julien Behal/PA) (PA Media)

Omicron is now the dominant Covid-19 strain in Ireland health officials have said.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has estimated that approximately 52% of reported cases are now due to the Omicron variant.

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohon said: “It has taken less than two weeks for Omicron to become the dominant strain of Covid-19 in Ireland, revealing just how transmissible this variant is.

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“We have slowed transmission of this disease in the past using our basic measures and responding immediately if symptomatic – it is extremely important we do everything we can to flatten the curve of this wave now to prevent unnecessary deaths, risk to the vulnerable and to protect our health service.

“I urge anyone eligible for a booster to available of it at the earliest opportunity.”

A further 5,124 confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been notified in the country.

On Sunday morning there were 436 Covid-positive patients in hospital, of which 107 were in ICU.

Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath said no Government wanted to introduce restrictions which led to job losses (Brian Lawless/PA) (PA Wire)

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people in Ireland are likely to lose their jobs due to new restrictions brought in to curb the spread of the Omicron variant, a Government minister has warned.

Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath said that no Government wanted to be in the position of making decisions which would cost jobs, but said the first duty was to protect the health of the population.

On Friday, the cabinet agreed that restaurants and bars, excluding takeaways and delivery services, must close at 8pm.

It also said that there should be no indoor events after 8pm and attendance at indoor and outdoor events earlier in the day would also be restricted.

The new regulations come into force from midnight on Sunday.

Mr McGrath told the RTE This Week programme that he was involved in ongoing discussions with groups affected about support measures.

We acknowledge the enormous difficult this causes for sectors and for people who will lose their job

Michael McGrath

He said: “There is ongoing contact with a number of bodies who are directly impacted by the changes that the Government has introduced.

“I spoke directly to a number of the representative bodies yesterday so the work is ongoing and we expect to conclude it shortly.”

He added: “No Government ever wants to be in a position where it has to impose restrictions that result in people losing their job.

“We all find that incredibly difficult, it is never a place that you want to be.

“But as a Government we have been presented with modelling and a scenario whereby the Omicron variant is now dominant in Ireland, that has happened in a very short period of time.

“In the next number of weeks we will see a significant increase in the incidents of this disease, and the first duty of any government is to protect the health of its people and to safeguard our public health system.

“We acknowledge the enormous difficult this causes for sectors and for people who will lose their job and that is why the Government will be there to support them, as we have been to date throughout the pandemic.”

Asked about an estimate from the hospitality industry that 60,000 people in Ireland could lose their jobs, Mr McGrath said: “The numbers will be significant, certainly in the tens of thousands.

“It is difficult to be precise because we are asking employers to, where possible, keep the employees on the books.”

There have been reports of long queues at vaccine centres across the country on the first day over-40s are eligible for a booster.

The HSE said there were long waiting times at a number of centres and many walk-ins were turned away.