The number of people diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection has dropped 36% this year.

More than 1,000 fewer infections have been diagnosed than in the same period last year – before lockdown was introduced.

According to new figures from the HSE, there have been 2,116 HIV or STI diagnoses so far this year.

That compares to nearly 3,300 in the same period last year.

The Executive Director of the Sexual Health Centre, Martin Davoren, said there is an obvious reason for the drop.

“In 2020, we were socialising, we were out and about – the pandemic had yet to hit our shores.

“So, people were active both in society but also moreso within their sexual lives. For 2021, we are in a different landscape right now.

“We are in the 5km limit and we are not meeting people outside of our households and so levels of sexually transmitted infections may be less.”

The HSE figures show that eight people under the age of 14 tested positive in 2021, alongside 15 older teenagers.

Kiki Martire, a director of SpunOut.ie, said there are two main reasons for the decrease this year.

“I mean the obvious one of course is we have been in a prolonged period of being asked to either be in lockdown or be socially distant,” she said.

“So that is one obvious thing to point to.

“But of course, we have also seen services that are no longer available, services that have shut down or are at limited capacity or have had to reprioritise their attentions in other areas.”

The HSE figures are up to date as of last Saturday.