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The medical director said he is concerned that the Covid-19 virus is “moving in the wrong direction.”
“We are seeing important and worrying indicators that this disease is moving in the wrong direction,” said Dr. Tony Holohan, “which include an increase in positivity and incidence rates at seven and 14 days, and our average of five days now it has risen to 339 cases.
Dr Holohan added that these trends were all the more worrying given the “delicate and precarious situation” in which the country found itself, which was heading into a period of possible widespread intergenerational and household mixing.
Their concerns arise when the Health Department has confirmed another six deaths from Covid-19 tonight.
The most recent figures bring the total number of Covid-19-related deaths in Ireland to 2,140.
The Health Protection Surveillance Center (HPSC) also confirmed 431 new cases of the coronavirus.
The total number of cases since the outbreak began has reached 77,197 confirmed cases.
The number of people in ICU is 30, while 207 people are in the hospital, with an additional 22 hospitalizations in the last 24 hours.
The seven-day incidence rate is 48.7 per 100,000 population.
Dr Holohan added: “These trends are all the more worrisome given the delicate and precarious situation we find ourselves in; As a country, we are heading into a period of possible general mixing between households and intergenerational groups.
“This is an ideal opportunity for the virus to spread and affect those most vulnerable to its most serious effects.”
NPHET will meet tomorrow to review the epidemiological situation.
Dublin reported the most cases today with 134 followed by Donegal with 53.
25 more cases were confirmed in Cavan, 24 in Louth and 22 in May.
There were 18 cases in Cork.
The remaining 155 cases are in all other counties.
Of the cases reported today, 185 are men and 244 women.
67% are under 45 years old and the average age is 35 years.
In Northern Ireland, health officials today confirmed eight deaths related to Covid-19.
510 new coronavirus cases were also confirmed, bringing the total number of cases in the North since the outbreak began to 59,631.
The total death toll from the virus in the north has reached 1,143.
The latest case and death figures come as Taoiseach Micheál Martin warned that Northern Ireland hospital scenes of ambulances queuing outside hospitals could become a reality in the south.
Speaking today about the leader’s questions in the Dáil, Mr. Martin described the rapidly deteriorating situation in the north as “very, very worrying and very worrying.”
Meanwhile, the healthcare system faces an “unparalleled” challenge in the coming months as a huge vaccine implementation program intensifies, the Oireachtas Health Committee has heard.
A rollout plan for the rollout was released this week, but High Level Task Force Chair Professor Brian MacCraith said it is a living document.
“The challenge of designing and implementing a vaccination program of this scale, complexity and desire for speed is unparalleled here and around the world,” he said.
In the UK, Boris Johnson said people should “think hard” before meeting family and friends during the festive period as he urged people to have a “merry Christmas”.
The British prime minister said that “a smaller Christmas will be a safer Christmas” and also suggested that people should shorten their celebrations rather than enjoy the maximum allowed of five days in a festive bubble.
The relaxation of social distancing rules in the UK will continue despite concerns about the possible impact on efforts to control the virus.
Original UK-wide plans would have allowed three households to form a festive bubble between December 23-27.
But Johnson said those were the upper limits rather than a target to aim for.
In the US, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo contacted a person who tested positive for Covid-19 and is now in quarantine.
He said Pompeo tested negative for the virus, but is being monitored by medical professionals.
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