There are 448 new cases of Covid-19 in the Republic.
The number of patients in hospital with the virus has dropped to 99 - which is 28 fewer than 48 hours ago.
There are 41 in intensive care.
As of midnight, Tuesday 25 May, we are reporting 448* confirmed cases of #COVID19.
41 in ICU. 99 in hospital.
*Daily case numbers may change due to future data review, validation and update.— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) May 26, 2021
Concerns Over Indian Variant In UK
Meanwhile there are calls for people who have one dose of the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine to be topped up with a different jab to protect against the Indian variant.
A new UN report found cases of the variant have been identified in at least 53 territories.
"What we're asking people to do in those affected areas is to be cautious."
Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi responds to an urgent question about travel and social distancing guidance for areas with high numbers of the Indian #COVID19 variant.
Latest: https://t.co/TeSGf8slJr pic.twitter.com/YdkUomN4QZ— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 25, 2021
128 cases of the Indian variant have been identified in Ireland so far.
However UK officials have identified over 5,000.
Trinity College Professor Kingston Mills believes there is some concern:
"The numbers of cases of the Indian variant in Ireland are still quite low."
"But the issue is that, it's not the case in the UK, where the numbers are increasing significantly."
"We have relatively relaxed travel between those two countries."
Public Health England Study Analysed Vaccines
A study by public health England found that the Pfizer vaccine is 88% effective against the strain over 2 doses.
However Astra Zeneca is as low as 60%.
Professor Mills says that's reassuring for people who have got a Pfizer vaccine, but not AstraZeneca:
"I think there's a case now to use a booster of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for those who got the Astra Zeneca in the first instance."
"Particularly those in the vulnerable age groups."
Experts understand the B 1.617 variant to be more transmissible.
But they're still conducting studies to determine if it increases the chances of severe disease increases.
