New Covid case numbers rise in past 24 hours

4,564 people registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal yesterday, Thursday, January 20.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 6,597 new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Yesterday, Thursday, January 20, the daily increase in figures stood at 5,523.

The jump in numbers is similar to that reported on Wednesday, when the Health Protection Surveillance Centre was notified of 6,843 new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

In addition to today's figures, on Thursday 20 January, some 4,564 people registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal.

That number is down from the 5,048 people that registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal on Wednesday.

Currently there are 892 COVID-19 patients being treated in hospitalis, of which 88 are in ICU.

Last week the numbers attending the Cavan Covid Testing Centre at Castlesaunderson fell dramatically following new rules that only those over age 40 with symptoms require a PCR test.

Anyone aged between 4 and 39 with symptoms is currently being told to self-isolate immediately and take regular antigen tests instead of booking a PCR test.

If they have a positive antigen test - then they should book a PCR test to confirm.

According to the HSE, between January 10-16, more than 2,400 people were referred for testing in Cavan.

Of that, 2,094 attended their appointments, the number arriving at Castlesaunderson trailing off from a height of 469 for testing on Sunday, January 10, to just 95 on Sunday, January 16.

A total of 191 did not attend their appointments.

Just over 2,000 people were referred for testing in neighbouring Co Monaghan between January 10-16.

Over that period, numbers dropped from 418 being tested on Sunday, January 10, to just 78 being tested on Sunday, January 16.

Some 191 did not attend their scheduled swabbing appointment.