https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/coronavirus/six-cases-of-omicron-variant-detected-in-ireland-and-4-022-new-covid-19-cases-reported-1.4751401 - https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/coronavirus/six-cases-of-omicron-variant-detected-in-ireland-and-4-022-new-covid-19-cases-reported-1.4751401

We are bad in Scotland and as you know our countries are so closely linked.  So probably be influx to Ireland over Christmas relatives going home.

All I can advise is to wear an FFP2 (N95) face mask in high risk situations.  My son recently had Covid (PCR positive and symptomd) but we all wore Boots FFP2 rather than surgical masks for 10 days around house and slept beside open windows and it didnt spread to my other 2 teenagers or myself or hubby despite living in same close household, and I had a lot of contact with him when he was sick.  May have been coincidence but mine was only house not to spread in and only house to use these masks over surgical.

Are a bit more expensive and may need to wear a tighter strip but fully tested as medical standard which arent always done with Amazon buyers.

Ps I am not sponsored by Boots just thought I would mention it.

Boots Protective FFP2 NR Face Masks 5s - Boots

https://www.boots.com/boots-protective-ffp2-nr-face-masks-5s-10292473 - https://www.boots.com/boots-protective-ffp2-nr-face-masks-5s-10292473

Apologies for late reply Hazelpad! Our Internet had been playing up...

Thanks so much for the advice. I didn't realise Boots did them :-)

That sounds very hopeful, thank you. I am dreading if (when) covid comes knocking at our door. I have a blood clotting problem. We are being very careful but it just doesn't seem realistic at this stage to think we will not. I wish things were different!

I hope your son is doing well..

And yes we are very closely linked! Very similar I think. I love Scotland ❤