Sharp rise in Mayo hospitalised Covid cases

A total of 27 Covid cases are in care at Mayo University Hospital today.

That's a rise of 18 since last Friday, December 23 - a clear reflection of the current spread of the Omicron variant.

Eight new cases were admitted to the Castlebar facility yesterday and there is one suspected case at the centre.

Two of the 27 cases are in intensive care.

There are four vacant general beds at the facility and one in ICU.

Nationally, there are 638 positive cases in hospital with Tallaght Hospital having the highest number, 54.

Galway University Hospital has 20 cases and Sligo University Hospital has nine.