New COVID-19 variant present in Ireland - preliminary data

Irish health chiefs believe a new variant of the coronavirus found in neighbouring Britain is present in Ireland, but not solely responsible for a rapid spread in the disease.

The likely presence of the more infectious variant is based on preliminary data from a selection of samples from last the weekend, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) said in a statement.

The number of people in Ireland infected by someone who has COVID-19 - the so-called reproduction number - has risen to 1.5 to 1.8, the highest level since March. NPHET also made fresh unspecified recommendations to government, a day after ministers significantly tightened COVID-19 restrictions.

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