Covid-19: Six deaths and 772 new cases but efforts are 'starting to work'
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan. Picture: Collins Photos
Six further deaths from Covid-19 have been confirmed this evening by the Department of Health.
The newest figures bring the total number of Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland to 1,908.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) also confirmed 772 new cases of the coronavirus.
The total number of cases since the outbreak began has now reached 61,059 confirmed cases, including a denotification of 10 previously confirmed cases.
The number of people in ICU is 42, a decrease of one since yesterday.
Dublin reported the most cases today with 228 followed by Cork with 120.
Meath recorded 50 new cases today, while Donegal and Galway record 41 each.
The remaining 292 cases are spread across another 20 counties.
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, said that while the "overall situation has improved but we have to remember that these are very early days. This improvement will only be maintained if we keep going in our efforts."
He said: “We have to remember that incidence is increasing in older age groups, who are particularly vulnerable to this disease.
"The way in which we can protect them is if we continue to drive down transmission across the whole population.”
Ireland's 14-day incidence rate is now 287 per 100,000.
The R number is now estimated to be close to 1.
Case numbers have begun to reduce across the country for the first time since June.
Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said we should take these "positive signs" as an indication efforts are "starting to work".
He said: "The critical thing now is to keep it up, the virus will seek out any opportunity to spread; over the next weeks let’s make sure we don’t give it that opportunity, by driving R and case numbers as low as possible.”
Of the cases notified today;
- 362 are men / 406 are women
- 64% are under 45 years of age
- The median age is 36 years old
Dr Desmond Hickey, Deputy Chief Medical Officer said Ireland’s progress is "notable" when compared to the "rapidly deteriorating picture" across Europe.
“As of today, Ireland has seen a reduction in its 7-day incidence rate of 36% when compared to the previous 7 days.
He added: "It is paramount that we sustain and continue to drive down disease incidence as much as possible in the coming weeks.”
Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer has reminded the pubic "if you need urgent or emergency care in our hospitals, this care can be provided safely.”
“There has been a significant reduction in emergency presentations and admission in recent weeks, when compared with activity last year.
He added: "Our Emergency Departments have in place pathways of care to keep patients and staff safe."
Meanwhile, there have been nine further Covid-19-linked deaths in Northern Ireland and 566 new cases of the virus.
The death toll now stands at 697.
There have been 37,782 confirmed cases in Northern Ireland.
There are currently 354 patients with Covid-19 being treated in hospital, with 43 in intensive care.
Earlier, the Government rejected calls to lift its ban on the sale of children’s clothes and other household items in supermarkets.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said it would be “not fair” to smaller retailers forced to closed under level 5 lockdown conditions if large supermarkets were allowed to sell so-called “non-essential” items.
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