Risk of exposure to Covid-19 is 100 times higher than in June

The risk of someone being exposed to Covid-19 in Ireland is 100 times higher than it was in June.

Public health officials are urging people to stay at home during Level 5 restrictions and to isolate or restrict their movements appropriately if they test positive for the virus, have symptoms or are a close contact of a confirmed case.

The 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 here has exceeded 300 for the first time since the pandemic began.

Back in June, this number was just 3 cases per 100,000 of the population, making the risk of infection 100 times greater now than it was four months ago.

Health officials say the virus is everywhere but is concentrated in cities, their surrounding areas, and border counties.

It is growing at a rate of around 5 to 8% and the Reproductive number is between 1.3 and 1.4.

Health officials say the goal of Level 5 measures, which is to reduce this down to an R number of 0.5 in the next six weeks, is realistic.