DUBLIN (Reuters) – The incidence of the more contagious variant of the coronavirus first discovered in England has continued to rise in Ireland in recent days, accounting for nearly half of the most recent sample of positive tests, Prime Minister said Micheál Martin.
Ireland’s 14-day infection rate has increased tenfold in the past three weeks to 1,291 cases per 100,000, fueled by the new variant and the reopening of shops, restaurants and the relaxation of a ban on home visits before Christmas.
Martin said he was told by Ireland’s chief physician that the new variant accounted for 45% of the most recent 92 samples that were subsequently tested additionally, compared to 25% of the samples tested in the week to January 3 and 9% two weeks earlier.
Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Hugh Lawson