Covid-19: Fifteen deaths, 401 new cases confirmed in Ireland
The total number of cases confirmed in Ireland since the outbreak began is now 244,695. File Picture
Fifteen further deaths from Covid-19 have been confirmed this evening by health officials.
Two of the deaths occurred in April, three occurred in March, six are from February and four others are from January or earlier.
The median age of those who died was 82 years and the age range was 56-90 years.
The newest figures bring the total number of Covid-19 related deaths here to 4,856.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) also confirmed 401 new cases of the virus here.
The total number of cases confirmed in Ireland since the pandemic began is now 244,695.
- 217 are men;
- 181 are women;
- 73% are under 45 years of age;
- The median age is 31 years old;
- 182 are located in Dublin;
- 40 are in Kildare;
- 31 are in Donegal;
- 23 are in Limerick;
- 22 are in Cork;
- and the remaining 103 cases are spread across 17 other counties.
As of 8am this morning, 182 patients with Covid-19 were hospitalised - 47 of whom were in intensive care units.
Nineteen additional hospitalisations have been reported in the past 24 hours.
The 14-day incidence rate of the virus here is now 113.4 per 100,000 population. The seven-day incidence rate 54.7.
The five-day moving average 376.
Validation of data at the HPSC has resulted in the denotification of six previously confirmed deaths, and three previously confirmed cases. The figures of 4,856 total confirmed deaths and 244,695 total cases reflect this.
1,219,487 and doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been given out in Ireland, as of Monday, April 19.
863,958 people have received their first dose, while 355,529 people have gotten their second jab and are fully vaccinated.
In an update on Ireland’s vaccination programme issued this evening,the Department of health said the country's strategy remained to "distribute all available vaccine as quickly as is operationally possible, prioritising those who are most vulnerable to Covid-19.
"The programme is based on the principles of safety, effectiveness and fairness, with the objective of reducing severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths from Covid-19 infection."
The Department said the European Commission's announcement of the acceleration of delivery of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine was "welcome".
The first doses of these vaccines are set to be delivered to Ireland during the week of April 26.
|
Period |
Pfizer |
Moderna |
AZ |
J&J |
|
|
To end March |
737,100 |
109,200 |
340,800 |
|
1,187,100 |
|
Apr-21 |
|
||||
|
Week 14 |
135,720 |
|
135,720 |
||
|
Week 15 |
136,890 |
14,400 |
14,400 |
165,690 |
|
|
|
1,009,710 |
109,200 |
355,200 |
14,400 |
1,488,510 |
The Department said that Moderna had requested that 50% of its vaccine be held back for second doses.
"An appropriate buffer amount is built up and held back for all vaccines to ensure availability of second doses for the following week.
"Currently, about 95% of available vaccines are administered within seven days of arrival in Ireland," the Department added.
Meanwhile, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) is due to meet Thursday to discuss the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
On Tuesday, the European Medicines Agency Agency (EMA) stated that the benefits of the J&J jab outweighed any possible risks.
However, it advised that a warning on the potential for unusual blood clots with low blood platelets should be added to the vaccine product information.
The rollout of the J& J vaccine had been paused following reports of eight cases of clotting in patients who had received it in the US.
In spite of these issues, and the recent issues surrounding the AstraZeneca vaccine, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that Ireland’s target of vaccinating 80% of adults by June still stands.
“The target is still the target, I’m not confirming any changes whatsoever,” he said in the Dáil this afternoon.
Also likely to be discussed by NIAC tomorrow is a proposal to extend the interval between vaccine doses.
