Seven deaths and 243 new confirmed cases in Ireland

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS have confirmed a further 243 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland, bringing the total number of cases to 71,942.

Additionally, the Health Department has reported that seven more people have died with Covid-19.

Today’s update brings the total number of Covid-19 deaths in Ireland to 2,050.

Of the cases reported today, 137 correspond to men and 104 to women.

71% of the cases correspond to people under 45 years of age and the average age is 32 years.

As of 2:00 p.m. today, 254 Covid-19 patients are hospitalized, of which 31 are in the ICU.

There have been 20 more hospitalizations in the last 24 hours.

91 of the cases reported today come from Dublin, 26 from Donegal, 18 from Cork, 16 from Waterford and 15 from Limerick, with the remaining 77 cases spread across 18 other counties.

The 14-day national incidence rate per 100,000 now stands at 93.7.

Yesterday, seven deaths and 206 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Ireland.

Last night, Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed that shops, restaurants, gyms and some pubs will be able to reopen next week, and limited home visits will be allowed at Christmas.

Since Tuesday, December 1, retailers, hair salons, gyms, libraries, galleries, cinemas, tennis courts and golf courses will reopen and religious services will be allowed to resume, but theaters will remain closed.

Restaurants and pubs with on-site cuisine must be able to reopen from Friday December 4, and hotels may open for diners indoors.