During three weeks of increased contacts, the graph soared upwards, almost vertically – a trajectory not witnessed during the previous two waves. This is about balance.”The average number of close contacts of coronavirus cases peaked at just over five over Christmas. Since then, Dr Smyth has found infections from Christmas house parties and family gatherings. The new, more infectious UK virus strain had not seeded sufficiently here to take off, accounting for only a small share of the Christmas infections. Data presented at Nphet briefings suggest between 75 per cent and 92.5 per cent of December infections were the non-UK strain.

Source: The Irish Times January 16, 2021 01:01 UTC