“If you are younger, you are NOT immune.”

That was the stark warning from HSE boss Paul Reid today, as he appealed directly to young people to exercise more caution while they socialise after an uptick in new Covid-19 cases.

“If it doesn’t kill you, your transmission could cost the life of someone else. Let’s all get our act together this weekend.”Mr Reid said in a tweet.

Yesterday, Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn revealed that the majority of new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland are in patients aged under 25.

Just a reminder…we are still living with a deadly virus. If you are younger, you are NOT immune. If it doesn’t kill you, your transmission could cost the life of someone else. Let’s all get our act together this weekend. #COVID19 @HSELive

— Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) July 10, 2020

Last night there were six new deaths from Covid-19, with a further 23 new cases confirmed, 15 of which were travel related. Dr Glynn said that according to the latest data collected over the past 14 days, the median age of patients testing positive for the virus was 34.

“In addition, 77% of cases reported today are under 25 years of age,” he said. “Covid-19 is extremely infectious and none of us are immune.

“It is important that we all continue to follow public health advice and risk assess our actions.”

‘An immediate need for action’

Dr Glynn said he is still considering his stance on reopening the pubs next week, adding that NPHET will be “watching very closely what happens this weekend” before given the next phase of the plan the green light.

Speaking at department briefing on Thursday evening, Chair of the NPHET Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, Professor Philip Nolan, said: “We are seeing an increase in the number of reported cases over the last two weeks and the R number is now at or above 1.

“There is an immediate need for all of us to take care and caution in our decisions and actions.”