Taoiseach Micheál Martin and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson have discussed the latest information to emerge about the more virulent strain of Covid-19 that was first identified in the UK.
Mr Martin has expressed concern following suggestions that the variant may be linked to higher death rates. The discussion comes as the UK announced that those who contract the more highly transmissible UK discovered strain have a 30 to 40% greater chance of dying from the disease will strengthen calls for adherence to the public health measures.
The variant already accounts for 62% of Covid-19 cases in Ireland and is becoming even more dominant. Yesterday, Mr Martin said there would be no easing of level five restrictions at the end of this