Ireland, one of the four EU countries where the 7-day rate dropped

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The latest figures from the World Health Organization show that Ireland is one of only four countries in Europe where the Covid-19 incidence rate in seven days has decreased compared to last week.

The National Public Health Emergency Team has said Ireland’s progress is encouraging but fragile, and it takes an effort to make it last.

Weekly figures from the WHO show that the seven-day rate here decreased by 36% this week.

Twenty-four other European countries recorded an increase in the corresponding rate.

Ireland is also ranked 20th out of 28 European countries in terms of rate, meaning that only eight other countries have a lower incidence of the virus in seven days.

HSE’s clinical director, Dr. Colm Henry, said at last night’s debriefing at the Health Department that the deteriorating situation in Europe was being viewed with apprehension here.

He said progress was fragile and Ireland was only a few weeks away from health systems being overwhelmed.

However, for the moment, all the key indicators are starting to look more positive for the country.

There is an overall decrease in the number of cases, the R number is now around one, and confirmed cases now have fewer close contacts.

Hospital admissions and intensive care are also increasing more slowly than in previous weeks.

However, there is concern about the increase in the number of cases among older people, and the chair of the NPHET epidemiological modeling group, Professor Philip Nolan, cautioned that efforts to suppress the virus should be continued.

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