3,805 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed here by the Department of Health earlier today.
As the elevated case numbers here continue, anyone with a busy social calendar this festive season is being urged to take regular antigen tests.
Officials say that anyone who is taking part in so-called risking activities - such as visiting pubs, nightclubs or restaurants - should take two tests a week three days apart to ensure they haven't contracted COVID.
There have been calls for the government to give out free tests.
The @hpscireland has today been notified of 3,805* confirmed cases of #COVID19.
As of 8am today, 582 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 106 are in ICU.
*Daily case numbers may change due to future data validation
— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) November 14, 2021
Dr Paddy Mallon is an infectious disease physycian at St Vincent's hospital and a Professor of Microbial Diseases at UCD.
He is hopeful the government will at least subsidise the tests:
"You've got to make sure that there's good access to tests and that the public trust the tests they're getting. They need to be affordable. Those thoughts and recommendations have been passed on to government."
Meanwhile, unvaccinated people in Austria will be forced into lockdown from midnight.
The government says anyone aged over 12 who is unvaccinated, will be banned from leaving their homes, except for things like working, food shopping and going for a walk.
It will affect around two million people and will last for 10 days before being reviewed.
