Daily Covid-19 case numbers are closing in on record levels as the HSE testing system comes under severe strain coping with the fast-rising Omicron wave.

Unprecedented demand meant there were no PCR test appointments available in 19 counties at one point on Thursday, with just a few hundred slots available in other counties.

The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) reported 7,411 new confirmed cases on Thursday, the highest daily total since the third wave of the pandemic last January.

Hospital Report

The number of positive swabs taken surged past 9,000 – the highest in a day since the pandemic began and 200 per cent above the figure a week ago – on 37,703 daily tests.

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The rising positivity rate meant that almost one in four people swabbed tested positive.

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said that with the more infectious Omicron variant now accounting for almost three-quarters of cases, Thursday's high case total was "not unexpected". He expects to see "a rapid increase in case figures over the coming short period".

“It is imperative that all of us, to the greatest extent possible, make every effort we can in the next two to three weeks to only meet with members of our own households,” he said.

“Consider your plans over the Christmas period and into the early part of the new year, and try to keep your contacts as low as possible.”

Boosters

In a further acceleration of the vaccination programme, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said that boosters would be made available from next Wednesday to those aged between 30 and 39 and those aged between 16 and 29 who received the single-dose Janssen vaccine.

All remaining age groups will be able to receive boosters from January 10th, he said. Research has shown that a three-dose vaccine offers stronger protection against Omicron.

Dr Holohan advised people that if a member of their household received a positive test result on a PCR or antigen test, then all members of the household should restrict their movements and not attend work or socialise with others.

The HSE is processing more than 35,000 testing swabs a day, with positivity rates rising to record levels as Omicron pushes Covid-19 testing system to its limit.

Damien McCallion, the HSE’s testing lead, said on Thursday that testing would continue uninterrupted over Christmas.

All 41 testing centres around the country will remain open for appointments only on Christmas Eve, while 25 will be open on Christmas Day and 36 on St Stephen’s Day.

“Testing slots, which are held for GPs or close contact referrals, may also be released over the course of the day, so we advise people to check for testing appointments regularly,” said a HSE spokeswoman.

Increase capacity

The HSE is planning to increase weekly PCR swabbing capacity in Covid-19 testing centres to 285,000. A record number of 233,813 tests have been carried out in the past week.

One health source said that the HSE was waiting to see whether the high rate of testing was as a result of people “trying to clear themselves before Christmas Day” in order to spend time with family and friends, and whether the rate would fall after Christmas.

Latest Covid-19 figures show that Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart in Dublin has become the worst-affected area for Covid-19 in the country, with an incidence rate of 2,087 per 100,000 people.

This equates to one in every 48 people in the area having Covid-19, according to the latest local electoral area data for the two weeks to December 20th.