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The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) is now concerned that the new variant of Covid-19 is playing a bigger role in the high levels of transmission seen here in recent weeks.
This comes as authorities confirm 10 deaths, bringing the total number of Covid-related deaths to 2,307 and 6,521 cases of the virus in Ireland.
Authorities have now confirmed 127,657 cases of Covid-19 in Ireland in total.
There are 1,022 people hospitalized which is higher than the peak reached in April, and 101 in ICU with Covid-19. There were 18 admissions to the ICU in 24 hours, but only four discharges.
A breakdown of the case data released by the Department of Health shows:
- 3,070 cases are men and 3,432 are women;
- 62% of the cases are under 45 years of age;
- The median age of confirmed cases today is 37 years.
Data from the government center shows 6,368 positive swabs, which is a positivity rate of 22.26% of today’s 28,609 swabs.
Among the hardest hit counties is Limerick with 382 new cases and the third highest 14-day incidence rate in the country at 1,399.2.
Waterford is also severely affected with an incidence rate of 907.2 and Cork has a rate of 905 for 14 days.
The infection rate is also high in Co Clare, where there are 899.7 cases per 100,000 population.
The 14-day national incidence rate has risen sharply back to 936.4 cases per 100,000 from 819.1.
Nphet had previously downplayed the role of the variant based on genomic evidence, but this now indicates changes.
In the latest letter from the medical director to health minister Stephen Donnelly, sent on January 5, he wrote that genomic tests confirmed that of 70 samples taken before December 20, 8.6% were found, and in the week until January 3 was found. in 24.9% of 189 samples.
Speaking tonight, NPHET Epidemiological Modeling Group Chairman Professor Philip Nolan said the new variant now appears to have a role in accelerating the number of cases.
And Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ronan Glynn emphasized that the message remains the same, as social distancing, mask use and hand hygiene continue to guard against this variant.
Plans to open classes for Leaving Certificate students were canceled tonight.
Dr. Holohan could not comment directly on the decision, but asked about the security risks shortly before the change in plans, saying: “We cannot offer advice that no environment will be at risk.”
And in connection with calls for the closure of licenses outside of licenses, he cautioned that drinking alcohol generally lowers awareness of risk.
He said: “Alcohol has played a role, this virus loves alcohol, that is a concern for us.”
Professor Nolan said the reproduction number is between 2.4 and 3 now, and the model shows a possibility of 1,500 to 2,500 people in the hospital in mid-January, depending on how current restrictions impact transmission.
He said: “We are clearly reporting exceptionally high levels of disease and the fastest growth rate, we have a considerable way to go to suppress the virus.”
All indicators used for modeling, including ICU numbers and positivity, are at “unprecedented high rates,” he said.
The letter to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is available on the gov.ie website.
This comes as the INMO nurses union announced an emergency meeting for tomorrow to discuss the Covid-19-related staff shortage.
The backlog of cases that followed the Christmas peak through Jan.5 has picked up, Nphet said.
The latest public health analysis of the Covid-19 infection in Ireland comes as the HSE confirms that so far more than 15,000 people have received the coronavirus vaccine.
Based on the current supply of vaccines, the HSE expects to vaccinate 135,000 people in these sectors by the end of February.
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