Close contacts to no longer be tested as 1,620 Covid cases and 12 deaths confirmed
Dr Holohan's comments come as a further 1,620 confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been reported this evening by the Department of Health along with 12 additional deaths. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie
The Chief Medical Officer has said the department of health will no longer be advising close contacts of confirmed Covid-19 cases to get be tested.
This is in response to the high rate of positive tests seen over recent days, and the widespread increase in infections in our communities nationwide.
“We are once again in the mitigation stage of this pandemic," he said.
"Testing and tracing is an exercise in containment and we are no longer in a containment phase.
"However, it is imperative that if you are a close contact of a confirmed case you restrict your movements and contact your GP immediately if you develop symptoms."
"This is very far from where we need to be and I am appealing to everyone at every age to adhere to the mandated restrictions that the government has introduced – stay at home, except for essential reasons, other than for exercise up to 5km.”@CMOIreland #COVID19
— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) December 31, 2020
In a statement, the HSE said, "this step is being taken to ensure that those who are symptomatic are prioritised and receive a test as quickly as possible."
Dr Holohan added: "This disease is now widespread in our communities and as a result, we are asking everyone to behave as if they are a close contact."
The CMO's comments come as a further 1,620 confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been reported this evening by the Department of Health along with 12 additional deaths.
The number of cases since the outbreak began has now reached 91,779 confirmed cases as well as 2,237 total deaths.
Hospitalisations have continued to rise across the country, with 58 additional hospitalisations recorded in the last 24 hours.
In total, 490 patients are currently in hospital with the virus - 42 of whom are in intensive care units.
Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer with the HSE said that the pressure on the public health system is "not sustainable".
"A collective response by every individual, across every county, to follow the public health advice is essential to address the recent acceleration in case numbers that we are now seeing, he said.
"The reintroduction of Level 5 restrictions is essential to protect our vital public services such as hospital admissions and non-Covid care and to have the maximum impact in the shortest possible timeframe a to minimise the spread of this disease.”
The national 14-day incidence rate of the virus is now 296.7 per 100,000 population.
Of the 1,620 cases notified today, the largest portion is located in Dublin with 498 cases in the capital.
This is followed by 203 in Limerick, 89 in Galway, 73 in Cork, and 67 in Mayo.
The remaining 690 cases are spread across all other counties.
Of today's results, 794 are men, while 819 are women.
It has been recorded that 65% of today's confirmed cases are under the age of 45, and the median age is 34-years-old.
In the North, another 11 people have died with Covid-19, the Department of Health said.
Another 1,929 individuals have also tested positive.
Hospital bed occupancy is running at 467, with 34 in an intensive care unit and 27 on a ventilator.
Overall bed occupancy, including non-Covid patients, is at 100%, with only six unoccupied.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Education Norma Foley has said that it was the Government’s “firm intention” that schools would reopen on January 11.
There had been only 94 cases of Covid in the last school week where data is available out of the 1.1m strong school community, she told RTÉ radio’s News at One.
Three-quarters of schools had not had to engage with public health services, she added.
When asked if Nphet had recommended that schools reopen, Ms Foley said that they had not.
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