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There have been 1,296 new cases of Covid-19 and six more deaths of people who have contracted the disease, confirmed the Department of Health.
This brings the number of people who have died from the virus to 2,200, while the total count of cases in Ireland has risen to 85,394.
Dr. Tony Holohan, Health Department Medical Director, said: “For the second day in a row we reported over a thousand confirmed cases of COVID-19. In a few weeks of relaxation measures in early December, we have now returned to very high levels of COVID-19 circulating in the community that we had not seen since the peak of Wave Two of this disease. This is very worrying “.
“While today is a positive day with the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer / BioNTech (Comirnaty), it does not mean that we can relax our adherence to public health measures.
“We should continue to stay home, avoid social contact whenever possible, avoid visiting friends and family, and not having visitors in our homes. Our adherence to public health advice will continue to be our best defense against this disease and will help us protect our vulnerable loved ones from the effects of COVID-19. “
This news comes as Ireland received the first doses of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine today, and Health Minister Stephen Donnelly confirmed that vaccination will begin on Wednesday.
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Vaccination will begin in four days Photo: Marc O’Sullivan
Ireland received 9,750 doses of the virus this morning and another 30,000 are expected in early January.
Older residents of nursing homes and healthcare workers in direct contact with patients will be the first to be vaccinated.
Brian MacCraith, the man responsible for overseeing vaccine delivery, logistics, warehousing and administration, said: “After a truly horrible year, the arrival of vaccines today represents a bright new dawn of hope.
“Vaccination is a gateway of opportunity for the Irish to protect themselves against this terrible virus.”
This is a “momentous day” for Ireland as the first batch of the coronavirus vaccine was delivered, HSE CEO Paul Reid said.
Mr Reid said that Ireland can now take a ‘two-track’ approach to our response to Covid-19. “Public health measures along with the vaccine, for a better future,” Reid said.
Ireland will receive 9,750 doses of the vaccine today, but will receive about 30,000 more doses over the next week.
These first vaccinations are scheduled to begin Wednesday with seniors living in nursing homes and healthcare workers in direct contact with patients first on the list to get vaccinated.
Mr. Reid said this morning: “An early morning start to a momentous day. Departing to receive the first delivery of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine for HSE. There are sure to be better days ahead. For now, stay safe. “
Higher Education Minister Simon Harris hailed the vaccine as a “milestone in this painful Covid-19 story.” Representative Harris urged everyone to stay the course and give the vaccine program time to roll out across the country.
Harris’s message comes as the number of daily cases in Ireland spiked again on Christmas Day, with 1,025 new cases and two more deaths.
Dr Tony Holohan, HSE Medical Director, confirmed yesterday that the new British variant of the coronavirus was found in Ireland for the first time.
Dr. Holohan said the virus was discovered by whole genome sequencing at the National Virus Reference Laboratory at UCD.
“More tests in the coming days and weeks will establish to what extent it is present here. In the meantime, it is vitally important that we all stay home, avoid social contact and avoid all forms of non-essential travel, ”said Dr. Holohan.
The CMO said it was particularly important for anyone coming home from the UK in quarantine for the full 14-day period after arrival.
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