Around 1,000 cases of Covid-19 are expected to be reported today

Thu, 15 Jul, 2021 - 14:45

Greg Murphy

The National Public Health Emergency Team is expected to report around 1,000 new Covid cases in Ireland later today.

Yesterday 783 cases were recorded, the highest in a single day since February.

HSE boss Paul Reid says case numbers will be even higher today.

"Yesterday, as you know, we saw one of the highest numbers of cases in one day, since February, as almost 800 cases," he said.

"We know and expect that today's cases will be approximately 1000.

"Any kind of look forward ahead will clearly demonstrate this is a very significant rise of case numbers."

Earlier today, the Tánaiste issued a stark warning to unvaccinated people that the pandemic is not over.

Speaking during Leader's Questions, Leo Varadkar said we're entering a new phase of the pandemic but the unvaccinated are at high risk.

Vaccine portal for people aged 25-29 to open tomorrow

The online booking portal for Covid-19 vaccination appointments will open tomorrow for people aged 25-29, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has announced.

The HSE portal will open for this age group to get a Moderna or Pfizer jab if they have not received a single shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine from a pharmacy.

It is expected that appointments will be made in the coming weeks.

To register, applicants will need:

PPS number
Eircode
Phone number
Email address

Registrations can also be carried out over the phone on 1850 241 850 for anyone who might need assistance.

UK restrictions easing a 'concern' for Ireland, says HSE chief

The head of the Health Service Executive has said he expects the number of cases of Covid-19 to continue to rise in the immediate future.

It comes as the Department of Health confirmed a five-month high in case of numbers on Wednesday.

There were 783 new infections were reported, with the Delta variant now accounting for 80% of the cases reported in Ireland.

The infection rate is increasing by 2% to 4% daily, according to the Department of Health.

Paul Reid says he is very concerned about how the forthcoming easing of restriction in the UK will affect the spread of the variant here.

"We'd have all these concerns was happening in the UK," Mr Reid said.

"The reality of that just, you know, widespread opening like that, it hits the most vulnerable populations, it hits education, it hits young people in schools.

"I think our own government are taking a more pragmatic and cautious approach which we in the HSE would certainly welcome."

Dr Ronan Glynn said there have been 626 travel-related cases over the past fortnight, representing 8.4% of the total number of cases. Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

On Wednesday, the deputy chief medical officer, Dr Ronan Glynn, said the epidemiological situation is beginning to deteriorate across the world as a result of the Delta variant, first identified in India.

There was a 10% increase in cases globally last week compared to the previous week, Dr Glynn said.

In the European region, there was a 20% increase in the number of cases week on week, largely driven by surges in the UK, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Greece.

Dr Glynn said there have been 626 travel-related cases over the past fortnight, representing 8.4% of the total number of cases.

Spain accounted for more than half of travel-related cases at 385, followed by Britain at 161 and Portugal at 131.

DELTA VARIANT

Public health experts are warning that people infected with the Delta variant are showing different symptoms to those seen with other variants.

Dr Ronan Glynn, the deputy chief medical officer, said: “The latest data is showing clear increases in incidence of disease right across the country. There is no question that the delta variant is having a considerable impact of the transmission of COVID-19.

These symptoms include: