1,508 new Covid cases confirmed with 206 in hospital and 33 in ICU 

Health officials have confirmed 1,508 new cases of Covid-19. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

The Department of Health has confirmed 1,508 new cases of Covid-19 after the chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Tony Holohan has said the virus "is circulating to a significant degree in the community". 

There are 206 patients hospitalised with coronavirus across the country. 

Of these patients, 33 are receiving treatment in intensive care (ICU) after one person was discharged from ICU. 

Total hospitalisation figures are down 11 since yesterday, representing a small decline. 

In total, 313,876 cases of Covid-19 have been identified since the pandemic began. 

As of Wednesday last week, 5,044 people have died from the virus. 

Current Covid data is subject to revision from future case validation after the HSE cyberattack. 

Speaking about the latest Covid figures, Dr Holohan said the vaccine drive and community engagement with public health guidelines is encouraging in the face of rising case numbers. 

"Covid-19 is circulating to a significant degree in the community, but the public’s ongoing adherence to public health advice, the high levels of vaccine uptake, and the ongoing community engagement with testing centres around the country is encouraging. 

"We continue to see good levels of cooperation with contact tracing and we must maintain this in order to break chains of transmission and keep our families and communities safe," he said. 

Close contacts and testing

The CMO has urged those identified as close contacts to present themselves straightaway for a Covid-19 test and for people displaying symptoms to self-isolate regardless of their vaccination status. 

“Until you receive a result and if you receive a positive result from a PCR test, it is essential that you isolate and cooperate with contact tracing teams so that your close contacts can be informed. 

"If you are a close contact of a person who has tested positive for Covid-19, please come forward for a PCR test immediately if you have any symptoms or are not yet fully vaccinated to help stop the spread of this disease.

“If you are experiencing fever, cough, cold/flu symptoms, or loss of sense of smell or taste, please isolate straight away and seek a PCR test as soon as possible, either by contacting your GP or by booking a test online for one of the HSE’s Covid-19 test centres. 

"This is also important for those who are fully vaccinated as you can still transmit Covid-19,” he said. 

 Vaccine rollout

The latest Covid data comes as more than 700 pharmacies nationwide will be administering Pfizer vaccines from this week as the rollout extends to 12-15 year olds.

Currently, 320 community pharmacies have been giving the Pfizer vaccines and almost 1,000 have been offering the one-dose Jansen jab.

Over 700 pharmacies had indicated their availability to administer Pfizer and from this week they will begin to receive stock to start vaccinations. Picture: Denis Minihane.

Over 700 pharmacies had indicated their availability to administer Pfizer and from this week they will begin to receive stock to start vaccinations.

While vaccination centres will be a primary location for vaccinations for the 12-15 age cohort, the pharmacies will supplement these clinics ensuring greater access for those who may not live near a vaccination centre.

As well as offering greater convenience for parents, another benefit of using pharmacies is that it will be a familiar space to most children.

Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) Secretary General, Darragh O'Loughlin, has assured that pharmacies are being provided with operational guidance including the procedures around parental consent.

Mr O'Loughlin says pharmacists will be on hand to provide information and advice to parents as they administer the vaccine.

He believes the enhanced local availability of the Pfizer vaccine will provide further incentive for people to get vaccinated.

“This is very good news,” Mr O’ Loughlin said. “I’d say there will be a big push on to at least get first doses for as many 12-15 year olds and 16-upwards as possible, before the schools reopen. I expect we will be busy.” 

The Pfizer vaccine will be the mainstay of pharmacy-based vaccinations while any remaining stocks of Janssen may be administered to adults over the age of 18 until the doses have been used up.

Mr O’ Loughlin does not expect pharmacies will receive further deliveries of the single-shot vaccine, following changes to the delivery plan to Ireland.

“The supplies which should have come in towards the end of July didn’t come in,” he said.

The National Advisory Immunisation Committee (Niac) had advised offering younger people the Janssen or Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine only when that was faster to access than the preferred mRNA type vaccines from Pfizer or Moderna.

“Supplies of the Pfizer vaccine have been really really strong, and now we have an extra 700,000 doses coming in from Romania,” Mr O’ Loughlin said.

“The clinical reasoning for offering Janssen has become less relevant, so the HSE’s position is there will be no more distributed and the (pharmacy) programme will continue from here on out just with mRNA, mostly Pfizer.”