Ireland's Covid-19 death toll reaches 5,000 as 448 cases confirmed

As NIAC advice was only delivered on Monday, he said it would stand to reason that NPHET did not have the advice

Dr Tony Holohan, said it is vital everyone continues to follow public health guidelines in order to surpress the rapid Delta variant. Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

Ireland's Covid-19 death toll has reached 5,000, with two further fatalities reported today.

A further 448 Covid cases has been confirmed to the Department of Health, and 44 people have been hospitalised with the virus, of which 14 are in intensive care.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan, said it is vital everyone continues to follow public health guidelines in order to surpress the rapid Delta variant. 

“We are all concerned about the rapidly changing transmission arising from the Delta variant. However, we know that the basic public health measures will work in protecting people. 

"And we know that all the vaccines offer significant protection against transmitting the disease and in how severe it is for those who pick it up," he said.

We must not forget to keep up the basic measures; wash hands, wear a mask where appropriate, avoid crowds, meet outdoors, keep distance and take a vaccine when it is offered to you. 

"These remain the vital protections for those who are awaiting their turn to be vaccinated.” 

Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said there has been a concerning increase in incidence over the last ten days.  

"Incidence is growing at 2% per day, reproduction number is now above 1; estimated at 1.0 to 1.2. Delta is much more transmissible, and it is vital we continue the basic measures to prevent transmission while the vaccination programme rapidly gives us all protection from the virus," Prof Nolan said. 

Dr Cillian De Gascun, Director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory, said while the prevalence of Delta in the community is increasing, its effect on hospitalisations is still emerging. 

"We do know it is the most transmissible strain of COVID-19 to date. Emerging evidence from the UK shows Delta roughly doubled the risk of hospitalisation. 

"As proven throughout the pandemic, monitoring evidence and timely action protects us all," he said.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says he was "surprised" to hear Cabinet ministers didn’t know that Monday's Nphet modelling did not take account of the latest Niac advice on vaccines.

Mr Donnelly told Newstalk that as the Niac advice was only delivered on Monday, it would stand to reason that Nphet did not have the recommendations on vaccines.

It had not been possible for Nphet to include Niac’s recommendation as the modelling was completed over the weekend and Niac made its recommendation on Monday.

A major contradiction emerged yesterday when Dr Tony Holohan told opposition TDs that Monday's clearance from Niac to give the AstraZeneca and Janssen vaccines to under 40s was not included in the modelling from Nphet.

However, ministers say they were told at cabinet on Tuesday that the modelling did take account of the new vaccine schedule.

Mr Donnelly, however, told Pat Kenny on Newstalk that he "does not understand" how any member of the Cabinet could have been surprised by the news.

Numerous cabinet sources told the Irish Examiner that Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed that the new vaccine advice from Niac was factored into Nphet's pessimistic forecasts.

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Cabinet members have confirmed that Tourism Minister, Catherine Martin, asked repeatedly whether the new vaccine advice had been factored in, to which the Taoiseach was "quite firm" that it had been.

Tourism Minister, Catherine Martin, asked repeatedly whether the new vaccine advice had been factored in. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Mr Donnelly pointed out that in Scotland where the population was largely vaccinated, there had been a record number of positive cases in one day. The UK had more positive cases of Covid at present than the entire EU, he added.“We have to hope for the best, but plan for the worst.”

The minister said that the Government had to work with the hospitality sector on how best to open up, as quickly, as fully and as safely as possible. “We have to proceed safely.”

When asked why Ireland could not adopt vaccination passport schemes that had been used successfully in other European countries, Mr Donnelly said that many people in the sector had said that it was not “implementable” for them which was why the Government wanted to work with the sector to find a scheme that worked for them.

“The industry needs to be involved in working on the design of this.

“The sector said this cannot be done, so it was out of immense respect that we said let’s meet and talk.”

On antigen testing, Mr Donnelly said that he hoped the expert group on antigen testing would provide more information on how such testing could be used effectively. While Nphet had a different view, the minister said he respected the views of both sides, but that ultimately he had to make decisions.