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234 more coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the state, including 103 in Dublin, and two more deaths, according to the latest figures.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) confirmed the latest figures in a statement Wednesday night. The new cases bring the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state to 33,675, while the death toll from Covid-19 here now stands at 1,794.
68% of new cases involve people under the age of 45, while 34 of the cases have been identified as a result of community transmission, meaning the source of infection is unknown.
In addition to the 103 cases in Dublin, 30 new cases were identified in Co Donegal, 22 in Co Galway, 21 in Co Cork, 13 in Co Wicklow, 12 in Co Louth, nine in Co Kildare and eight in Co Meath.
Responding to the latest figures, Professor Philip Nolan, Chairman of NPHET’s Irish Epidemiological Modeling Advisory Group, said: “If we are starting to suppress the virus again, it is essential that we continue this effort: limit our social contacts, limit the mix between homes. The next 10 days are critical. ”
Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ronan Glynn echoed those comments, saying, “The most important thing people across the country need to do now is reduce their social contacts.
“We must all reduce discretionary social activities. Knowing fewer people means fewer chances of transmitting the virus. Please prioritize who you want to meet with and try to keep your social network as small as possible. ”
Dr. Colm Henry, HSE Clinical Director, said: “At the beginning of this pandemic, we managed to flatten the curve through common purpose and solidarity. We now face the toughest task of suppressing the virus again while trying to protect education and healthcare environments. “
Incidence rate
Earlier, it was learned that Dublin’s 14-day incidence rate of coronavirus infections has fallen for the first time in two weeks, according to the latest figures released by the Center for Health Protection Surveillance.
The rate of Covid-19 infections during the period dropped marginally in Dublin, from 138 cases per 100,000 at midnight on Sunday to 136.9 at midnight on Monday, three days after the new Tier restrictions were introduced. 3 in the county, while the rest of the country remained at Level 2.
This is the first time that the infection rate in Dublin has decreased since September 8.
Within Dublin, the disease incidence rate fell below 200 cases per 100,000 in northwest Dublin, dropping to 196.9 cases from 204.7 in the 24-hour period.
Also, the rate in south-east Dublin fell to 143.9 cases per 100,000 from 150.4. However, the rate in Dublin West continued to rise, rising to 148.1 cases per 100,000 from 140.3.
While the incidence rate in Dublin dropped slightly in the latest figures, the national average continues to rise, reflecting an increase in infections outside the capital.
The national rate of infections during the last 14 days stood at 70.7 cases per 100,000, compared to 70.4 24 hours earlier.
Infectious disease expert Professor Sam McConkey highlighted the importance of people following public health advice and said if cases continued to rise, Dublin might need to move to Level 4 or even Level 5
Professor McConkey, Head of the Department of International Health and Tropical Medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RCSI), said it was time to act.
“The sooner we do it, the shorter the duration and the less restrictive those measures will have to be,” he told Newstalk.
The Covid-19 case rate had risen in four to five counties to nearly the same level as Dublin and action is now required, he added.
“Unfortunately, if the number of cases continues to rise, whether in Dublin or in those counties, the only sensible thing to do is go up to Level 4 or even Level 5.”
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