People urged to stay at home when feeling unwell amid rising Covid-19 and flu cases

People have been urged stay home if they have flu-like symptom by HSE Chief Clinical Officer, Dr Colm Henry due to concerns over the rising number of new cases of Covid-19.

Dr Henry was speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland show on Wednesday morning. 

He said with the first normal Christmas, following restrictions over the past two years, there is much more opportunity for viruses to transmit, and not just only Covid-19, but also flu. 

Dr Henry said there had been an "alarming rise" of Covid-19 cases in hospital, up "75pc week-on-week".

He also noted that hospitalisations are up "90pc since the beginning of December". However, he said a low number of patients have been admitted to ICU.

"We would appeal to people to wear masks on public transport, in any setting where there's any degree of congestion, and where they’re in the company of an older person," Dr Henry said.

"You’re only one step away from somebody who may be much more vulnerable to serious Covid-19 or indeed serious influenza than you are,” he added.

The Chief Clinical Officer noted a "waning uptake" of the Covid-19 vaccine. Just 46pc of people who are eligible for the second booster shot have taken up the offer so far.

There were 625 confirmed cases in hospital on Wednesday morning, December 21. There were 17 patients being treated in ICU on Tuesday, December 20.