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Medical Director Dr. Tony Holohan has said he is “increasingly concerned” that the positive trends in the number of Covid-19 cases seen in recent weeks have not been sustained.
On Tuesday, 11 more deaths related to Covid-19 were registered in the Republic and 366 additional cases.
It brings the total number of deaths linked to the virus in the state to 1,995 with 68,686 cases, according to figures from the Department of Health.
The 14-day incidence rate of the disease is 121.3 cases per 100,000 people. Donegal has the highest incidence rate in the county at 282 cases per 100,000, a slight increase in recent days. Wicklow has the lowest rate, with 63.2 cases.
In Europe, only Finland and Iceland have lower incidence rates than Ireland, according to the European Center for Disease Control.
North Ireland
The Causeway Coast and Glens Borough is the worst affected area in the north, with an incidence rate of 561.5 cases per 100,000 people over the past 14 days.
The next highest rate is in the Mid Ulster area, with 478.8 cases per 100,000.
On Tuesday, another 549 people tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland and nine more deaths were reported, according to the region’s Health Department.
Upward trend
With the number of daily cases trending slightly upward in the state in recent days, Dr. Holohan cautioned, “We have two weeks to continue our efforts to reduce community transmission of this disease as much as possible.
“The lower the incidence, the more flexibility the country will have in flexibilization measures.”
On the other hand, the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) warned the Government of a possible “reseeding” of Covid-19 cases in international travel.
In a letter sent by Nphet to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, Dr. Holohan also expressed concern about the level of Covid-19 in Donegal and the increase in cases among the elderly.
Regarding travel, Nphet noted the “stark contrast between the trajectory of the disease and the international situation.
He highlighted the “importance of protecting the progress that the country has made by applying Level 5 restrictions and preventing a recurrence of cases through international travel.”
Dr Holohan stressed “the need to effectively manage import risk, especially in the context of non-essential travel from high incidence areas in the coming weeks and during the Christmas and New Year period.”
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