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The rise in coronavirus cases is linked to the return to schools and workplaces, according to NPHET.
A further 617 cases were reported this evening, the highest daily figure in more than three weeks.
The number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is continuing to slowly fall and the 176 recording this morning was down just over 4% on last week.
Speaking at this evening’s health briefing, the Chair of the NPHET Modelling Group Professor Philip Nolan said the rise may be linked to the return of first to fourth-year students to secondary school after Easter.
“It is dominated by an increased detection in those aged 13 to 18-years-of-age so, as that very large cohort of adolescents return to school, appropriately and understandably, with any symptoms they are being referred for tests and that is picking up some additional cases,” he said.