Cases 'rising quickly' as CMO warns 'stay away' from restaurants and pubs

People Christmas shopping in Dublin. Picture:Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

Dr Tony Holohan has urged people to reduce their contacts as a senior Nphet official said the rise in figures is cause “for grave concern”.

On Sunday, the Chief Medical Officer said that cases are “rising quickly”.

In a tweet, he said Ireland has low cases and deaths when compared to the EU, UK and the US but he said “this is at risk now- just as vaccines arrive.” 

Dr Holohan added: “To protect yourself and those you love: Stay home. Don’t meet up. Stay away from restaurants/pubs. Avoid crowds. Use masks. Follow health advice.” 

Cases rising quickly. We have low cases and deaths compared to EU/UK/US. This is at risk now- just as vaccines arrive. To protect yourself & those you love: Stay home. Don’t meet up. Stay away from restaurants/pubs. Avoid crowds. Use masks. Follow health advice. @roinnslainte

— Dr Tony Holohan (@DrTonyHolohan) December 20, 2020

On Sunday morning there were 220 patients with Covid-19 in hospital including 29 in ICU.

There were 13 additional admissions to hospital in a 24-hour period.


On Saturday, 527 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed along with five additional deaths.

Dr Holohan appealed to people to reduce their contacts and act responsibly.

“As we head into a week with uniquely risky inter-household and inter-generational mixing, please remember to act responsibly. Start this weekend. It is never too late to cut down your contacts, cancel plans, or avoid a crowd,” he said.

“Bear in mind that you may well be the link in a chain of transmission that ends with a vulnerable loved one catching this dangerous disease. Stop that chain of transmission now – limit your movements today.” 

'Cause for grave concern'

Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the Nphet Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said the rapid rise in the figures has only been seen twice.

“We have seen case numbers at this level and rising this rapidly only twice before: in March and in October,” said Prof Nolan.

“We have gone from a (5-day) average of 260 cases per day to 469 cases per day in one week. It's a cause for grave concern. Stay well. Stay safe. Stay home.” 

We have seen case numbers at this level and rising this rapidly only twice before: in March and in October. We have gone from a (5-day) average of 260 cases per day to 469 cases per day in one week. It's a cause for grave concern. Stay well. Stay safe. Stay home. pic.twitter.com/4TKT4nfVHM

— Professor Philip Nolan (@PhilipNolan_MU) December 19, 2020

 

In March, the country was placed under a ‘stay-at-home order’ while in October, Ireland saw a Level 5 lockdown introduced.

Meanwhile, Director of the National Virus Research Laboratory, Dr Cillian De Gascun, said a new variant of Covid-19 found in London has not been found here but he said Irish authorities will be vigilant for the new strain over Christmas.

Dr De Gascun said: “Our public health guidance here is to avoid non-essential travel so hopefully we won’t see it imported over the coming weeks but obviously if we do and if we have cases that have returned from the UK then we’ll work with our public health colleagues to identify those cases and prioritise them for sequencing.”

On Saturday, England’s CMO Professor Chris Whitty said the UK had informed the World Health Organisation that the new variant coronavirus can spread more rapidly.

It led British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announcing that that from Sunday areas in the South East currently in Tier 3 will be moved into a new Tier 4 – effectively returning to the lockdown rules of November.