The Department of Health has reported 3,161 new cases of Covid 19 today.
498 people are in Irish hospitals with Covid-19 today.
It's three percent lower than last week's total - which was an eight month high.
Latest figures show there's 78 patients in ICU with the virus.
🦠 3,161 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.
🏥 498 in hospital.
🩺 78 in ICU.— Ben Finnegan (@_BenFinnegan) November 8, 2021
Meanwhile, the Irish National Teachers Organisation says antigen tests in schools have to be free and handed out quickly.
The Taoiseach has confirmed they will be used in primary schools before Christmas.
Around 400 primary school children tested positive for covid every day over the past two weeks.
John Boyle from the INTO says antigen tests would be a useful tool.
"We've had free antigen tests now in Northern Ireland for considerable length of time."
"I know that the school system has found that beneficial."
"We have members who worked there, who who certainly value them."
"So I would like to see them offered for free, particularly in the case of young children who would be testing positive that their families would be able to get the test in a timely fashion."
