Provisional figures show there have been 667 Covid-19 cases recorded in Limerick over the past 14 days.
Limerick hurling fans have been urged to limit their social activity after the All-Ireland final on Sunday between the county and Cork due to the "high rate" of Covid-19 circulating in the community.
Limerick City and County Council, The Department of Public Health Mid-West, Limerick GAA and An Garda Síochána have appealed to members of the public and businesses in a joint statement to support the Limerick senior hurlers safely this weekend.
"Due to the social nature of this high-profile sporting event, the current baseline of cases in Limerick city and county, and the highly-transmissible Delta variant, there is a high risk of infection for people who are unvaccinated or not fully-vaccinated if they engage in social activity that is outside Public Health guidelines this weekend," the statement reads.
"We are urging everyone attending household events, hospitality settings, and any indoor gathering to maintain social distancing, wear a face mask, and limit social contact in well-ventilated spaces.
"We are also urging the hospitality sector to protect their staff and customers by confirming valid certificates of their patrons and to avoid crowding both indoors and outdoors. Social settings and close contact within those facilitate infection and continues to be a factor in community outbreaks in Limerick."
According to provisional figures, there were 667 Covid-19 cases recorded in Limerick over the past 14 days, including 66 cases on 16 August.
Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Daniel Butler said: “Having your county in an All-Ireland final is such a great occasion, with the excitement in communities growing as the final approaches. I know that Limerick supporters are some of the best and most passionate in the country, and we are hoping for a good result on Sunday.”
“But we must remember that we are still living with Covid-19 and I’m appealing to everyone to enjoy the match and celebrate the Limerick hurlers in a safe and responsible manner.”
Specialist in Public Health Medicine Dr Marie Casey added: “The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final is one of the most special sporting fixtures, bringing communities together and a welcome boost to the local economy.
"Unfortunately, if not controlled, this can turn into events which rapidly increase the number of cases in the community, as we had experienced last year.
"The community in Limerick worked very hard to reduce the rates from the community outbreak in June and we would like to maintain this improvement.
"We are best protected when we are fully vaccinated and adhering to guidelines, so if you are socialising with friends and family this weekend, do so safely to limit the spread of Covid-19 in your community.”
