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There have been 1,620 new Covid-19 cases confirmed today with another 12 deaths reported by the Center for Health Protection Surveillance.
In total, there have been 2,237 Covid-19-related deaths in Ireland and 91,779 confirmed cases of the virus.
This continues the trend of high figures being reported after a record 1,718 new coronavirus cases were confirmed yesterday.
Close contacts of confirmed Covid-19 cases are no longer being asked to get tested as the system is overloaded.
Of the cases reported today, 794 are men and 819 women. The average age of those infected is 34 years, and 65 percent are under 45 years of age.
In total, 498 of the cases reported today are in Dublin, 203 in Limerick, 89 in Galway, 73 in Cork, 67 in May and the remaining 690 cases are spread across all other counties.
As of 2:00 p.m. today, 490 Covid-19 patients are hospitalized, of which 42 are in the ICU, with 58 additional hospitalizations in the last 24 hours.
In December, there have been 135 deaths associated with Covid-19. Health officials fear that many of these numbers underestimate the current situation as the numbers continue to rise.
Dr. Tony Holohan, Medical Director of the Department of Health, said: “We are once again in the mitigation stage of this pandemic. The alarmingly escalating incidence of the virus in the general population is of great concern. This disease is now widespread in our communities and as a result, we ask everyone to behave as if they are a close contact.
“To support the testing system through this increase, we are no longer advising close contacts of confirmed cases to get tested. Test and trace is a containment exercise and we are no longer in a containment phase.
“However, it is imperative that if you are a close contact for a confirmed case, you restrict your movements and contact your GP immediately if you develop symptoms.
“The average number of contacts per case has gone from 2.5 in November to an average of 6.3 in the last days. This is a long way from where we need to be and I call on everyone of all ages to adhere to the restrictions imposed by the government that it has introduced: stay home except for essential reasons, other than to exercise. up to 5 km “.
Professor Philip Nolan, Chairman of Nphet’s Irish Epidemiological Modeling Advisory Group, said: “The epidemiological situation is very serious and the virus is spreading rapidly among all age groups, increasing the risk for those most vulnerable to infections. serious, such as the medically vulnerable and people over 60.
“The reproduction number is at least 1.6-1.8. The daily growth rate is now estimated at 7pc-10pc giving a doubling time of 7-10 days or less.
“We project a significant additional increase in cases and hospitalizations in the next few days before public health measures take effect and we are likely to see more than 700-1000 people in the hospital with Covid-19 by the beginning of the new year.
“While it is difficult to face further restrictions, it is vital that everyone play their part by following public health advice to protect the most vulnerable in the population.”
Professor Nolan said two weeks ago that we were seeing one ICU admission per day, but now it’s up to five per day on average.
Yesterday there were eight admissions to the ICU. Demand for testing is very high at around 14,000 per day. He added that the positivity rate is now higher than at the October peak during the second wave, and that yesterday 18.3% of the tests carried out were positive.
Professor Nolan said: “We are now in a serious phase of escalation which is clearly a third increase.”
Dr. Holohan said: “We know what action to take. If you have symptoms, it is very important that you isolate yourself and contact your GP and present for the test. For a time, we will no longer have close contacts for testing. We are at a stage where we have to operate on the basis that we are all close and potentially infectious contacts. “
“People should only leave home for limited reasons, like exercising within their 5 km. Everyone should work from home. Right now, our actions as a society must focus on getting these levels of the virus out of the country as quickly as possible.
“We still have the opportunity to change this and avoid the scale of infection that Europe has been experiencing. If each one can take the individual actions required and as a society, take the collective actions necessary to stop the transmission ”.
Dr. Colm Henry, HSE Clinical Director, said: “The pressure on our public health system, including testing and tracing services, is not sustainable. A collective response from every individual, across counties, to follow public health advice is essential to address the recent acceleration in the number of cases we are seeing now.
“The reintroduction of Level 5 restrictions is essential to protect our vital public services, such as hospital admissions and non-Covid care, and to have the maximum impact in the shortest time possible to minimize the spread of this disease.” .
Dr. Ronan Glynn, Deputy Medical Director of the Department of Health, said: “While we are currently in a very dire situation, we are not powerless against Covid-19. The best tool we have at the moment are others.
“We have shown on multiple occasions that we can act collectively to break chains of transmission, reduce the intensity of this epidemic and slow the increase in cases.
As we look forward to the New Year, we remember the 2,237 people who sadly died with Covid-19 in Ireland in 2020, along with all their families and loved ones who are grieving their loss. Let’s do everything we can to ensure that as few families as possible are similarly affected in 2021. “
Professor Karina Butler, chair of the National Immunization Advisory Committee, said: “The implementation of our national immunization program is underway with our first priority focusing on nursing home residents and front-line healthcare personnel.
“Once additional Covid-19 vaccines have been authorized, it will be possible to increase the availability of vaccines throughout the country. The vaccine is a vital tool in our strategy to protect ourselves from Covid-19 infection and goes hand in hand with public health measures on hand washing, social distancing and staying home. We need to stand firm now and collectively we can reduce the number of viruses quickly and protect our vital public services. “
The HSE has confirmed plans to vaccinate 20,000 people next week, including healthcare workers and nursing home residents in the seven hospital groups.
Dr. Holohan said: “We have started the vaccine program now. We are still experiencing a significant wave of community transmission. One understanding is that the vaccine will not offer us protection in the short term. Continue to follow public health advice, follow government advice to stay home.
“In relation to vaccination, are we going to allow vulnerable people to be exposed to a virus just as we are about to offer them the vaccine? At this point as a society, we owe it to them not to let it get to a point where they contract the infection before they get to a point where they can get vaccinated. “
Online editors
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