[ad_1]
The medical director has raised concerns about Covid-19 outbreaks in workplaces and as a result of gatherings for the Christmas holidays and funerals.
Dr. Tony Holohan urged people to follow public health advice, including limiting their contacts, to avoid a large increase in cases next month.
“We are now receiving reports of outbreaks in social settings, including work settings, Christmas parties, and funerals.
“I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to limit your interactions now. The consequences of not doing so will be exponential growth in January, a substantial increase in hospitalizations and risk to life,” added Dr. Holohan.
The Health Department has been notified of 484 cases of Covid-19 today and three deaths related to the virus.
The number of people hospitalized is 200, with 31 of the patients in intensive care, one more than yesterday.
At the national level, the 14-day incidence rate of the virus per 100,000 inhabitants is 94.2.
Dr. Holohan said that the five-day moving average is 387 per day, and the virus is spreading across the country in all age groups.
Deputy Medical Director Dr. Ronan Glynn urged people to limit their social contacts and “consider whether it is time to meet them.”
Professor Philip Nolan, chairman of NPHET’s Irish Epidemiological Modeling Advisory Group, said that the virus’s breeding number is now estimated to be between 1.1 and 1.3.
Speaking at a National Public Health Emergency Team briefing tonight, Professor Nolan said: “We are concerned that Ireland is now in a phase of rapid growth, which if allowed to continue, will result in 700-1200 cases per day for the second week of January, if not earlier.
“We are particularly concerned about the elderly and vulnerable adults, who have protected themselves during the second wave and are now at risk during the holiday season,” he added.
Professor Nolan said “whatever we were doing” between December 1 and 7 “was too much, too much social mixing and here we are now. We have to stop now to protect where we were going to be in seven to 10 days.”
Dr. Holohan said that many people’s plans for Christmas are perfectly good and don’t need to be changed. But he said people need to look at them again to make sure they are safe.
He said there is a rising tide of infection across the country and that no area is safe, adding that the basic message remains to wear masks, stay away from crowds and limit social contacts.
Dr. Holohan said that people with symptoms should isolate themselves and contact their GP for advice. He said they shouldn’t go shopping or socialize.
He said it would be “a terrible tragedy for many people if they contract an infection that can be largely prevented by not following public health advice” when the possibility of receiving a vaccine is near.
Dr. Glynn said that people should keep meetings as small as possible, but it’s not just about the size of them.
If people have any symptoms, they should isolate themselves and not feel pressured to attend family gatherings, he added.
[ad_2]