The head of the HSE has warned the growth of the Delta variant will likely "outmatch" Ireland’s supply of Covid vaccines.
Paul Reid said transmission of the strain is going to rise throughout this month and it will "probably peak into August."
He warned that the country is now in a race to get the vaccine rolled out to as many people as we can ahead of that.
Delta is now our dominant strain, making up more than 70% of our new cases.
This week's overall covid-19 incidence rate is up 20% on last week's figures.
Daily covid-19 case numbers have exceeded 500 on 4 out of the past 7 days.
HSE CEO Paul Reid says that's not good news and it's important everyone takes the Delta variant very seriously over the coming weeks.
