September 2025 brought a significant increase in COVID-19 cases in Ireland. According to the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate, nearly 5,000 new cases were reported in the past week, compared to around 1,200–1,300 previously. This season, two new subtypes of the Omicron variant—NP and LP—have emerged. In younger people, they cause symptoms similar to angina, while in seniors, they can lead to pneumonia.