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The number of people who have been infected with Covid-19 is some 30 per cent higher than official figures suggest, according to fresh research.
An analysis of samples from Irish blood donors between last October and mid-January shows that more than 500,000 people had been infected by St Stephen’s Day, some 14.6 per cent of the adult population. The proportion who showed prior infection with the virus was 20.4 per cent, according to the samples of 5,226 people who gave blood in that period, it says.
The combination of mass vaccination and infection has led to almost the entire adult population (98.5 per cent) having antibodies against Covid-19.
The study stressed that blood donors are healthier than the population in general, but experience similar levels of coronavirus infection.
Since December 26th, people with the disease in the State has doubled again because of the highly infectious Omicron strain.
The study, carried out by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), indicates that 43 per cent of people aged between 20 and 29 had a prior coronaviurs infection up to January 9th.
That age group had the lowest percentage of people vaccinated (89 per cent), but 99 per cent had antibodies against the disease.
Similarly, 92 per cent of those aged 30 to 39 were vaccinated, but 97 per cent had antibodies. The figures for the 40 to 49 age group were 93 per cent and 99 per cent respectively.
The study estimates that just half of all coronavirus infections in those between 20 and 29 were officially recorded, that figure was four in five cases of those between 30 and 39 and three in five of those aged over 50.
Positive test 
It stresses that the gap between officially confirmed cases and actual cases widened in late December as the Omicron surge led to many cases going undetected. In addition, those registering a positive antigen test on the Health Service Executive website are not being included in official figures.
It concludes that the blanket prevalence of antibodies in almost all adults could help guard the population in general against future infections, though individuals are still at risk of infection.
A further 1,407 PCR-confirmed cases were reported on Wednesday with a further 1,941 people registering a positive antigen test with the HSE.
The total number of PCR-confirmed cases in the State is now 1,506,963. The HPSC study would indicate that the number of infections, at 30 per cent higher, is closer to two million. As of 8am on Wednesday, there were 706 people with Covid-19 in hospital, including 42 people in intensive care.