18 deaths and 761 new confirmed cases in Ireland

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS have confirmed that 18 more people have died with Covid-19 in Ireland.

11 of the deaths occurred in March and 7 in February.

In addition, 761 more cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed, according to the latest figures from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).

The total number of Covid-19 cases since the first virus outbreak here last year is now 236,600.

The number of people who have died has reached 4,705.

From today’s cases:

• 383 are men and 373 are women
• 72% are under 45 years old
• Average age is 33
• 372 in Dublin, 55 in Meath, 43 in Cork, 40 in Kildare, 38 in Offaly and the remaining 213 cases are distributed in 19 other counties.

As of 8 a.m. today, there were 274 Covid-19 patients in the hospital, including 63 in the ICU.

There have been 18 additional hospitalizations in the last 24 hours.

As of March 29, 819,676 doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered in Ireland, including 590,688 first doses and 228,988 second doses.

The 14-day national incidence rate currently stands at 164.9 cases per 100,000 people.

The rate is highest in Offaly at 509.2 and in Donegal at 281.4 per 100,000.

In Dublin, where 372 new cases were confirmed today, the rate is 247.6.

Roscommon, Carlow, Leitrim, Clare, Sligo and Kerry each confirmed fewer than five cases today, while Wicklow and Kilkenny reported no new cases.

The validation of the data by the Health Protection Surveillance Center (HPSC) has led to the denotification of 15 previously confirmed cases, which is reflected in the current count.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has signed the authorization for the use of Janssen’s vaccine against Covid-19, which was developed by Johnson & Johnson.

Janssen’s vaccine involves only one dose and does not require cold storage, like the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

The first deliveries of the jab are expected in the coming weeks.

Yesterday, there were six deaths and 411 confirmed cases in Ireland.