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The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) has reported eight other Covid-19 deaths from Covid-19 patients. This brings the total number of deaths from the disease to 1,930.
Nphet also reported another 444 confirmed cases of the virus, bringing the total number of cases to 63,483.
It comes when the reproduction number, a key indicator of the spread of Covid-19, has fallen below 1, according to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly.
The reproduction number (R0) is now between 0.7 and 0.9, the minister said, compared with 1 last week.
An R0 of less than 1 means that the virus is decreasing as each case is transmitted to less than one person.
The new cases reported today include 158 in Dublin, 48 in Cork, 36 in Galway, 28 in Limerick, and 174 cases spread across other counties. Three counties reported no new cases.
The mean age of the cases is 37 years, and 61% are under 45 years of age.
As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, there were 310 Covid-19 patients in the hospital, including 41 in the ICU. The last 24 hours saw an additional 25 admissions to the hospital.
The 14-day incidence of the disease is now 228 cases per 100,000 people, Donnelly told the Oireachtas health committee this morning. This compares with 278 in the previous 14-day period.
The minister said that the rate was falling in 23 of the 26 counties of the Republic. The average number of close contacts of cases, another key indicator, has fallen from six to three, he added.
Additionally, the test positivity rate has dropped to 4.7 percent.
“By moving early and comprehensively, Ireland is currently bucking the trend seen in many other parts of Europe,” he told the committee.
The 14-day rate in France is 830, in Spain it is 567 and in the United Kingdom, 469.
However, the number of positive cases remains a great concern, the minister said. “We have seen almost 11,000 cases reported in the last 14 days. We must continue to actively suppress this virus to the fullest extent possible. “
Donnelly said that testing capacity at the HSE has now increased to 140,000 per week, from 120,000. Demand for tests fell 40 percent last week.
In a statement, Medical Director Dr. Tony Holohan said: “Every public health advice we have given since the beginning of this pandemic is designed to keep everyone protected from the impact of Covid-19.”
“If you are a close contact of a confirmed case, you are asked to restrict your movements for 14 days and to attend their two free Covid-19 tests, one on day zero and one on day seven. This is because, as an identified close contact, you have come into contact with the virus. It may take a while for this to become apparent or for it to become infectious. “
“By staying home for this entire 14-day period, you are helping to stop the spread of this dangerous disease. By following this important guide, you are helping to bring this virus back to where we all need it to be and playing your part in this national effort. “
Cavan remains the county with the highest incidence of the disease in 14 days, at 364.9 per 100,000 residents. However, the county registered fewer than five new cases yesterday.
The national incidence has fallen to 212.7 per 100,000, with Leitrim recording the lowest incidence at 68.7.
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