1,377 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed; five-day average at highest point since February
Dr Glynn urged anyone with any symptoms of Covid-9 to isolate and come forward for a test. File Picture: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos
A further 1,377 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed by officials at the Department of Health this evening.
At present, there are 78 patients with Covid-19 in hospital, 22 of whom are being treated in intensive care units (ICUs).
The daily case totals recorded this week mean Ireland is now reporting its highest five-day average of Covid-19 cases since the middle of February.
Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said the incidence has risen to more than 180 cases per 100,000 people, and the country is reporting a five-day average of more than 800 cases a day.
He said there is a particularly high incidence in people aged between 16 and 30, and the high case numbers are translating into increasing numbers in hospital and intensive care units.
Dr Glynn said 60% of the adult population are fully vaccinated but over two-and-a-half million adults and children who are not fully protected through vaccination, describing a “really big reservoir of people who are still vulnerable to this disease over the weeks to come”.
“A key message over the coming days is for people who are not vaccinated to really be careful about indoor settings, if at all possible meet up outdoors, make use of the good weather that we have at the moment,” he said.
“Do not meet up with other people indoors if you can avoid it at all, and if you are meeting with others indoors make sure that those areas are well ventilated, that windows are open.
“And a key message for anyone is that if you have any symptoms at all of a cold or flu, including symptoms like a headache, sore throat, or if you have a runny nose, blocked nose, blocked sinuses, please come forward and get a test … isolate and get a test, don’t meet up with your friends, don’t go to work and don’t meet up with family members if you have any of those symptoms.”
Dr Glynn also appealed for anyone who is not yet vaccinated to come forward to receive the jab.
The demand for Covid-19 testing is rapidly increasing around the country, with community test centres doing a record 15,000 tests on Friday.
HSE National Lead for Testing and Tracing Niamh O’ Beirne said on Saturday: “Yesterday was the busiest day so far in this wave for our community testing centres.” She said Saturday “remains busy” especially in the Dublin area.
Ms O’ Beirne said the HSE is making additional test-slots available for online booking in order to meet the demand.
This means more people do not have to wait for a GP appointment but can self-refer if they suspect they might have Covid-19.
Meanwhile, two further Covid-19-related deaths and 1,402 new cases were reported by Department of Health officials in Northern Ireland this afternoon.
The latest figures bring the total number of deaths linked to the virus in the North to 2,161, and the total number of cases confirmed to 138,009.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
