[ad_1]
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) reported another 66 deaths and 1,078 Covid-19 cases on Saturday.
Of the 66 reported deaths, 41 occurred this month, eight in January, seven in December and nine in November or earlier.
The average age of those who died was 84, with the youngest Covid-19-related death at 39 and the oldest at 98.
To date, 3,931 deaths related to the virus have been registered in the State, with a total of 208,796 confirmed cases.
There were 898 Covid-19 patients in the hospital as of 8 a.m. Saturday, with 44 people hospitalized in the last 24 hours.
There were 171 Covid-19 patients in intensive care on Saturday, Nphet said.
Of the 1,078 new cases reported on Saturday, 523 are men and 549 women. About 70 percent of the cases correspond to people under 45 years of age, with 32 being the average age.
Almost half of the cases (433) are in Dublin, followed by 139 in Galway, 52 in Limerick and 43 in May.
Self-isolate ‘immediately’
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ronan Glynn reiterated that anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 should isolate themselves “immediately” and contact their GP to arrange a test.
“The best way to protect ourselves and our vulnerable loved ones from serious illness as a result of Covid-19 infection is to continue to take the measures that we know can effectively suppress the virus,” he said.
Dr. Glynn reminded people to keep physical distance from others, avoid crowds, cover their faces, and wash their hands regularly.
Meanwhile, the total number of people hospitalized with Covid-19 has continued to fall, according to the latest figures from the Health Service Executive (HSE).
As of 8 p.m. Friday, there were 894 Covid-19 patients in acute care hospitals, representing a decrease of around 950 people the day before.
This is a significant drop in the more than 1,220 patients who were hospitalized with the virus a week ago, and from the peak of 2,000 hospitalizations last month.
A total of 166,863 people have received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, and 89,818 of them received the required second injection. File Photography: Liselotte Sabroe / EPA
However, the figures show that the number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care units has decreased more slowly.
Last weekend there were 178 Covid-19 patients in intensive care units, most of whom required ventilators. On Friday there were 169 patients in intensive care.
Health officials warned that there is a time lag between an increase in hospitalizations and intensive care admissions, meaning that any decline in numbers in intensive care will lag behind the drop in hospitalizations.
A total of 166,863 people have received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, and 89,818 of them have received the required second injection, according to the government’s Covid-19 data center.
Another 303 people tested positive for Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, the Northern Ireland Department of Health said on Saturday.
Another 10 deaths were reported, bringing the total number of virus-related deaths in the north to 1,985.
Frontline workers persevered
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the third wave had “pushed our front-line healthcare workers to the limit,” but they had persevered.
“Over the next several months we must protect that hard-won progress … as vaccines are implemented, starting with our most vulnerable citizens. Now is not the time to lower our guard, ”he said Saturday.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said that despite a recent drop in new cases, the virus is currently spreading at a rate similar to the peak of the second wave in October.
“Where we are now is not far from the peak of the second wave, so there is still a long way to go, but in the right direction,” he said in a video posted on Twitter on Friday.
“The number of people with Covid in the hospital peaked at 900 during the first wave, 354 in the second and 2,000 in this wave,” which he said was very serious.
“It has now dropped to around 950, more than half from the peak, but still higher than the first wave, so it gives you an indication of how far we have to go before we can seriously consider easing restrictions.” , He said.
Government sources have noted that Level 5 restrictions may not be eased until late April or early May, aside from the reopening of schools and the construction sector.
[ad_2]