The incidence of faster-spreading COVID-19 has increased further in Ireland -PM

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FILE PHOTO: A woman wearing a protective mask takes a photo of the empty shopping street in the city center after the government imposed the highest level of restrictions amid the spread of the coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19) , in Galway, Ireland, January 1, 2021. REUTERS / Clodagh Kilcoyne

DUBLIN (Reuters) – The incidence of the most infectious variant of coronavirus first discovered in England has risen further in Ireland in recent days and accounted for nearly half of the most recent sample of positive tests, Prime Minister Micheál said Martin.

Ireland’s 14-day infection rate has multiplied tenfold in the past three weeks to 1,291 cases per 100,000, driven by the new variant and the reopening of shops, restaurants and the relaxation of the ban on visits to families before Christmas.

Martin said the Irish medical chief told him the new variant accounted for 45% of the 92 most recent samples that underwent additional testing, compared to 25% of the tests for the week to January 3 and 9% two weeks earlier.

Padraic Halpin Reports; Edited by Hugh Lawson

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