More cases of Covid-19 were reported in Ireland in the period between Christmas and New Year than in all of 2020.
As the highly contagious Omicron variant takes hold, the number of patients being treated for Covid in hospitals is starting to rise, as the same time as a growing number health care workers are out sick. The nurses union is calling for all non-emergency treatment to be cancelled.
Our police service, public transport, and private businesses are all reporting staff shortages.
Here in Louth, one in ten people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the lead up to New Year.
I will be continuing to wear masks whenever I go shopping or other crowded areas. In fact I am now double masking, wearing these cotton masks made by my son's girlfriend over a surgical mask.