A further 1,914 COVID cases have been announced this afternoon.

This morning, there were 413 coronavirus patients in Irish hospitals – up two on yesterday and 16.5% on this day last week.

There were 73 in intensive case, which is up three on yesterday but the same figure as last week.

The five-day moving average has increased to 1,686.

The recent rise in cases have led to concerns next week’s reopening will not go ahead as planned – with some calls for vaccine passports to remain in use.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, HSE Chief Operations Officer Anne O'Connor said unvaccinated people are having a ‘disproportionate impact’ on the health service.

She said three-quarters of the COVID patients in ICU and half of those being admitted to hospital are unvaccinated.

There are currently 370,000 adults in Ireland who are not fully vaccinated.

Despite Ireland’s high vaccination rate, our case rate is more than double the European average.

Ireland has reported 372.25 cases per 100,000 people, while the average among the EU and EEA countries is 166.05.

Eight of the 30 countries on the European Centres for Disease Control (ECDC) list are reporting higher case rates than Ireland.

Ten countries are reporting higher death rates.