Irish COVID-19 infections hit record, critical cases slow

FILE PHOTO: People wear protective face masks while out for Christmas shopping, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Dublin, Ireland, December 17, 2021. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland on Friday reported its highest number of daily COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began but those requiring critical care fell further amid a rapid rollout of booster vaccines to battle a surge of the dominant Omicron variant.

The health department reported 11,182 positive cases, topping the 8,248 on January 8 during the country's deadliest wave. The number of COVID-19 patients in hospital peaked at 2,020 in mid-January, with a barely manageable 221 requiring critical care.