Daily Covid-19 case total falls below 1,000 for first time since July

July 15 was the last time the daily Covid-19 case total fell below 1,000. 

Health officials have confirmed that 892 new cases of Covid-19 have been recorded today, marking the first time since July that the number has fallen below 1,000. 

It marks the lowest daily figure reported since July 14 when 783 cases were recorded, followed by 994 cases being recorded on July 15.

The Department of Health has confirmed that 333 patients with the virus are in hospital, of which 64 are in ICUs.

Both the number of people in hospital and in ICU with the virus is up on yesterday figures, by 14 and four people respectively.

A statement added that the five-day moving average is 1,172.

It comes as Nphet's Professor Philip Nolan said that the incidence rate is "stable overall but it is a complex picture".

In a social media thread, Prof Nolan said that the "incidence in children has fallen, so that it is now lower than it was in mid-August before schools opened. 

"Incidence in adults may be trending upwards as we return to higher education and work."

Incidence is stable overall but it is a complex picture. Incidence in children has fallen, so that it is now lower than it was in mid-August before schools opened. Incidence in adults may be trending upwards as we return to higher education and work. 1/6 pic.twitter.com/HmfipYVBtj

— Professor Philip Nolan (@PhilipNolan_MU) October 4, 2021

Speaking about the incidence in children and young people, he said it has fallen. 

"Incidence in children aged 5-12 years is now lower than it was before schools opened, following a peak due to increased case ascertainment immediately after schools opened, similar to what we saw in March 2020.

"The number of children aged 5-12 years admitted to hospital is low, normally fewer than 3 per week, and this did not increase as schools reopened; it may have decreased, but we need to allow for delayed admissions."

Prof Nolan added: "A large force of infection built up amongst unvaccinated young adults with the arrival of the delta variant in July 2021. This was greatly suppressed by vaccination, and unaffected by the reopening of schools, but is sustaining a relatively high incidence overall."

The number of people in hospital and intensive care is “stable or increasing slowly”, Prof Nolan said.

“We will monitor this, and the number of cases in adults. Incidence is higher overall than we would like, and represents a risk.” 

He said that vaccines “are doing the heavy lifting, but we need to continue basic measures, especially self-isolating if symptomatic.” 

Self-isolating is “the most important measure,” said Prof Nolan, adding that “even when you have no symptoms remember distance, masks, hand and respiratory hygiene and ventilation.”

Vaccines work, and are doing the heavy lifting, but we need to continue basic measures, especially self-isolating if symptomatic. This is the most important measure, and even when you have no symptoms remember distance, masks, hand and respiratory hygiene and ventilation. 6/6

— Professor Philip Nolan (@PhilipNolan_MU) October 4, 2021

Earlier the European Union’s drug regulator gave its backing to booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for people aged 18 and older.

The European Medicines Agency said the booster doses “may be considered at least six months after the second dose for people aged 18 years and older”.

The agency’s human medicines committee issued the recommendation after studying data for the Pfizer vaccine that showed a rise in antibody levels following boosters given around six months after the second dose in people aged from 18 to 55.