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The new strain of Covid-19 in the UK is not believed to be responsible for the recent spike in numbers, as nine more cases of the variant have been detected in the Republic of Ireland.
r Cillian De Gascun, Director of UCD’s National Virus Reference Laboratory, said yesterday that a small number of samples were analyzed for the new variant between December 23 and 29.
Nine new cases of the new strain were detected. Of the 169 samples detected for this new strain to date, 16 have been confirmed, and therefore Dr. De Gascun said that he does not believe this new strain is responsible for the “recent significant and worrying increase” in cases of Covid-19.
On Twitter, he wrote: “Further tests this week of # SARSCoV2 samples dating from # 23 to December 29 have detected 9 additional cases of #UKvariant in #Ireland. This brings the total number of cases identified @nvrlucdireland to 16 (out of 169 tested to date).
“As a random, albeit small, selection of cases primarily from the community, these data would suggest that the # SARSCoV2 #UK variant – in a proportion of <10% - is not responsible for the recent significant and worrying increase in the number of cases # SARSCoV2 #Surveillance #Stay at home
On New Year’s Day, the Health Department confirmed another 1,754 Covid-19 cases.
The figures, including 11 additional Covid-19-related deaths, come amid warnings that cases could likely reach 3,000 a day, according to HSE CEO Paul Reid.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Tomorrow Ireland Yesterday, Mr. Reid said that the coronavirus is now “rampant” in the community.
He said: “The virus is absolutely rampant in the community now. Everyone is at extreme risk of contracting the virus.
“Our health service is on what we would now call a high alert.”
Yesterday, Medical Director Dr. Tony Holohan said: “The most worrying trend today is the rapid increase in the number of people entering the hospital; we now admit between 50 and 70 people a day in our hospital system.
“Unfortunately, we expect this to get worse before it gets better. Our healthcare system will not continue to cope with this level of shock.”
He also cautioned that the New Year’s Day figures are only the tip of the iceberg for the actual number of people who tested positive during the Christmas period.
HSE CCO Colm Henry said Today with Katie Hannon on RTÉ Radio 1 that 15,000 people with symptoms per day are being referred by general practitioners for testing.
He said people should act as if everyone they meet has the virus.
“Act like everyone you know has the disease. The prevalence rate of the disease in the community is extremely high and is increasing exponentially, ”he said yesterday.
“We know that the virus is out of control.”
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