264 new cases and two more deaths



[ad_1]

There have been 264 new cases of Covid-19 reported by the Department of Health. This brings the total number of cases to 76,449.

There have been two more deaths related to Covid-19, bringing the total death toll to 2,126.

Of the cases reported today, 128 are men and 134 are women, 65% are under 45 years of age and the median age is 36 years.

Today’s breakdown of cases is: 79 in Dublin, 24 in Donegal, 19 in Kerry, 18 in Limerick, 14 in Kildare, 14 in Wexford, and the remaining 96 cases are spread across 16 other counties.

As of 2 p.m. today, 215 people are being treated in the hospital for Covid-19. 33 of them are being treated in intensive care units, an increase of two since yesterday.

In Northern Ireland, another five deaths from coronavirus have been recorded, bringing the official Health Department number to 1,129.

There are also 419 new cases. Brings the cumulative total of cases to 58,635.

There are 429 confirmed Covid-19 patients in northern hospitals, 31 in the ICU, 24 of which are connected to ventilators.


Read more:
Seven Students Attend Mayo School Amid Covid Response Concerns
Nurse Receives First Covid-19 Vaccine In US As Launch Begins
82% of consumers will ‘look local’ in the lead up to Christmas


Meanwhile, the Taoiseach said that the launch of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will begin in the week after its expected approval by the European Medicines Agency.

The EMA is expected to give its decision on December 29 and Micheál Martin said that once that happens he hopes that the deployment will begin in the next week, starting with residents of nursing homes and health personnel.

However, he warned that “‘we cannot let our guard down” on Covid-19 because a vaccine is on the horizon and further restrictions may be introduced in January.

Mr. Martin said that the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine must be handled with care and that the Government will announce plans tomorrow on how it will be administered.

He said public health teams and physicians will be involved, along with GPs and pharmacists, who, he said, will be consulted about their participation.



[ad_2]