There has now been a total of 1,794 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland, while there has been a total of 33,675 confirmed cases.
Of the cases notified today:
- 115 are men/119 are women
- 68 per cent are under 45 years of age
- 49 per cent are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case
- 34 cases have been identified as community transmission
- 103 cases are in Dublin, 30 in Donegal, 22 in Galway, 21 in Cork, 13 in Wicklow, 12 in Louth, 9 in Kildare, 8 in Meath, with the remaining 17 spread across 10 counties
If we are starting to suppress the virus again, it is essential that we maintain this effort.
Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said: “The single most important thing that people all across the country need to do now is to reduce their social contacts.
"We all need to cut down on discretionary social activities. Meeting fewer people means fewer opportunities for the virus to transmit. Please prioritise who you choose to meet and try to keep your social network as small as possible.”
Dr Una Fallon, director of public health, HSE Midlands, said: “Covid-19 is highly contagious, and people can be infectious without symptoms. If you are a close contact of a confirmed case please follow the guidelines on hse.ie and restrict your movements for 14 days – do not go to school or work, do not have visitors to your home, do not go to the shop or pharmacy unless it is absolutely necessary. And to everyone, I would urge that you reduce the number of people you are in close contact with.”
Dr Colm Henry, chief clinical officer, HSE, said: “Earlier in this pandemic, we succeeded in flattening the curve through a common purpose and solidarity. Now, we face the more difficult task of suppressing the virus again while trying to protect education and healthcare settings.
“Every time you reduce your contacts, avoid a crowd, or choose to meet outdoors, or remember to keep your distance, know that you are a part of the frontline that protects our doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, and other staff working hard for us all in the Irish healthcare system.”
Professor Philip Nolan, chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said: "While 14-day incidence and daily incidence have stopped rising in the last few days, it is too early to conclude that there has been any change in the pattern of disease. The reproduction number over the last two weeks remains high, at between 1.5 and 1.7, growth rate between 5 and 6.1, and doubling time between 12 and 14 days.
“If we are starting to suppress the virus again, it is essential that we maintain this effort: limit our social contacts, limit mixing between households. The next ten days are critical.
