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HSE chief Paul Reid said that a drop in the positivity rate of people with Covid-19 gives hope for the future.
In the past seven days, the rate of those who tested positive has decreased from 8.9% to 5.8%.
It is considered an important measure as it indicates how widespread the infection is in the community.
Always reluctant to declare a trend. But for the past 7 days, we’ve seen the test positivity rate drop marginally every day. From 8.9% to 5.8%. One way or another, I hope it gives you all some encouragement and hope. # COVID-19 @HSELive
– Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) October 23, 2020
Mr Reid tweeted that he hopes this progress will give everyone “some encouragement and hope.”
The reports come when seven more people with the virus have died and there have been 777 new cases.
Professor Rachel McLoughlin of Trinity College Dublin said Level 5 restrictions may work despite the controversy surrounding their introduction.
The Immunology and Biochemistry professor said: “The decision to move to Level 5 was made this week and there was a lot of controversy surrounding that decision.
“But the facts are still where we are now and we have to make the necessary effort.
“Because none of us wants to find a situation in six weeks where the lockdown continues or, worse, more restrictions are put in place.”
Meanwhile, a member of the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) said that people’s behavior is changing in relation to Covid-19.
New figures from the Central Statistical Office (CSO) show that the average number of contacts per positive case was four in the week ending October 9, down from six contacts per case four weeks ago. .
Dr Mary Favier, Covid-19 Advisor at the Irish College of General Practitioners, said Ireland is moving in the right direction.
Dr Favier said, “I think what it shows is that people’s behavior is changing. The way they live their lives is changing.
“What they are doing in terms of their contacts, in terms of how many people they meet. The fact that they are staying at home. The fact that there is less travel on the roads.
“These would have been examples of what would have been happening at Level 3 and I think that can only be improved at Level 5.”
A total of 1,878 Covid-19 related deaths have occurred in Ireland since the outbreak began.
To date, there have been a total of 55,261 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.
Speaking last night, Medical Director Dr. Tony Holohan urged the public to isolate themselves if they show symptoms or are a confirmed close contact.
“It is vital that all newly diagnosed people isolate themselves for the full 10 days to protect the people they live with, the people they love, and the people in their communities from this highly infectious disease.
“Self-isolation means staying home, staying in your room as much as possible, staying away from other people, including those at home,” Dr. Holohan said.
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