Covid crisis: 9,006 new cases as "virus is running rife in communities"

The Department of Health has today been notified of 9,006 new confirmed cases of Covid-19.

As of 8 a.m. there are 521 patients in hospital - an increase of 60 people from yesterday's figure.

Of those, 92 were in ICU, up one.

The chief executive of the HSE, Paul Reid, has said there Covid-19 is "absolutely running rife in our communities."

Mr. Reid stated there is an "unparalleled level of testing volumes coming forward," and the HSE is seeing a positivity rate of up to 50% in the community.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said: "If you think that you have Covid, it's most likely that you have it."

He revealed 250,000 PCR tests were carried out over the past week with most people getting a same day or next day test.

Testing capacity is being increased, he added.