The country is now experiencing “near elimination of Covid-19 in the vaccinated population”, the chief medical officer has said.

According to Dr Tony Holohan, for those in the 50-65 age group who are in the process of receiving protection from full vaccination, incidence is dropping, while incidence is also dropping in most age groups.

This, he said, shows “commendable compliance” with public health measures as the vaccination programme continues to be rolled out.

“If you are fully vaccinated you can safely resume normal life - meeting other fully vaccinated people from up to two households indoors without masks or social distancing, and meeting unvaccinated people from one other household indoors and without masks.

“Those of us awaiting vaccination should continue to wash/sanitise hands regularly, manage contacts, avoid crowds, wear masks where appropriate and socialise outdoors,” he commented.

Meanwhile, the deputy chief medical officer, Dr Ronan Glynn, is urging everyone who is due a second AstraZeneca vaccine, to ensure they get it in order to complete their protection against Covid-19.

He pointed out that recent advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee states that the mixing of vaccine doses “is not recommended”.

According to the chair of NPHET’s Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, Prof Philip Nolan, “all indicators of the disease are improving nationally”.

“In April/ May, incidence was stable at 400-500 cases a day. This has now reduced to a five-day average of 303. Hospital admissions have reduced from 103 to 57 in the past two weeks.

“If we can continue to weigh public health measures with vaccine uptake and continue to keep new variants, including Delta, at bay, then the risk profile of Covid-19 in Ireland will alter for the better,” Prof Nolan added