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Another 814 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been notified to the Department of Health.
This brings the total number of cases in Ireland to 42,528.
Two other Covid-19-related deaths have also been reported, bringing the death toll to 1,826.
As of 2:00 p.m. today, 204 Covid-19 patients are hospitalized, of which 30 are in the ICU. There have been 16 additional hospitalizations in the last 24 hours.
226 of the cases announced today are in Dublin, followed by 64 in Galway. Another 56 are in Donegal, 48 in Meath, and the remaining 343 cases are spread across all the remaining counties.
Dr. Tony Holohan, Medical Director of the Department of Health, said; “It is vital that the entire population consistently implement public health advice in their daily life; Keep your social contacts to an absolute minimum and maintain physical distance when you need to be away from home.
“22 of 26 counties have 7-day incidence rates as a percentage of 14-day incidence rates above 50 percent. This shows rapidly increasing growth rates across the country. “
Of the cases announced today, 430 are men and 381 women.
70 percent are under 45 years old and the average age is 32 years old.
Masks message
Dr Jack Lambert warned that threats of confinement are damaging to the mental health of the Irish public and instead the government should push for better messages on the use of masks indoors and outdoors.
Dr Lambert, Infectious Disease Consultant at Mater Hospital in Dublin, spoke as the new cases were announced tonight.
Dr. Lambert said: “The constant threats of lockdown are bad for people’s mental health and they don’t help this situation.
“If we really want to stop the spread of the virus, we need the Government, from now on, to instruct absolutely everyone to wear masks inside and outside.
“Anyone who lives with a vulnerable person, an elderly person, needs to wear a mask when they are at home with them.
“This is the best way to keep people safe. And the use of goggles without masks must end. “
On Saturday, more than 1,000 cases were reported in just one day, the highest total since the height of the pandemic on April 15.
Dr Lambert said: “We expected an increase in numbers in the fall season, just as we have seen it globally.
“We knew that the virus was going to break out again somehow. But the real question is what did we do to prepare for that?
“In March, when the first people with covid arrived at the hospital, they also had influenza B.
“It was the end of the flu season in March. So, we made it clear, as we enter fall, we must be prepared, not only for Covid but also for the flu.
“However, we now have a shortage of flu vaccines and no vaccine in hospitals to administer to high-risk patients and staff.
“On Friday, we had high-risk patients (at Mater) and we didn’t have a flu shot.
“You can blame anyone for the increase in cases, you can say that the community is complacent.
“But the real problem is that the government did not make a comprehensive plan to keep the covid numbers in check in the fall and now, as the numbers increase, we are reacting to the numbers.
“The World Health Organization says that the confinement is an appropriate plan, since when you leave the confinement, there is no resurgence of the virus.
“But during the summer, we had inadequate plans in terms of covid prevention.”
Dr. Lambert said that “Asian” countries have kept numbers low and have managed to continue with social norms.
These nations have been successful, he said, because of a “constant message about masks.”
“They kept their businesses open, they took vacations,” he said. “And they did it because they all wore masks.
“Why do we blame the community for being complacent? This is due to botched messages and a lack of government plans.
“Masks are probably more effective than any Covid vaccine, however, I have seen older people with goggles without masks.
“These should not be sold. It should not be an available option. I’ve seen people with visors serving in restaurants. And we wonder why cases are increasing?
“People are told they will be blocked when blocking should be the last resort
“I’m not saying that if things continue to spiral out of control and escalate, it won’t happen. It may be the only option left. “
Prevent blockage
What can we do to avoid a blockage?
“Talking about a lockdown every day is not a solution, it is a scary tactic.
“We need to educate the people. We are talking about not having ICU capacity. The government must stop the use of visors now and everyone must wear masks on and off from now on. “
Dr. Lambert also said that everyone who deals with the public should wear a mask, including all Gardai.
And this had to be a “moving national mandate.”
And he was not impressed that the staff members had been caught in traffic delays leaving the Mater to return home.
Gardai would be better served, he added, dealing with “young offenders” involved in large gatherings.
‘Worsening at a pace’
Earlier today, the head of Ireland’s health service warned that the pandemic is getting worse at the same rate.
Paul Reid urged members of the public to “get real” and get involved in protecting patients and healthcare workers.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has promised additional resources for a healthcare system that is preparing for the toughest winters.
The HSE CEO said: “Covid-19 is getting worse at a rate.
“We all need to be realistic and do our part to protect patients and our healthcare workers.
“The increase in cases in hospitals leads to more people in intensive care units and canceling the heart, cancer and other care.
“Let’s change this quickly by doing the right thing today.”
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach has insisted that the health service has the capacity to deal with Covid-19 in the coming months.
He also reiterated that keeping Ireland’s schools open is a “key priority” for the Government.
It occurs when the country is believed to be in a second wave of the virus.
Martin said: “We have the capacity and the resources to overcome this and we will.”
In a statement he said: “An unprecedented level of resources has been allocated to health services, both in the Winter Plan and throughout the whole of 2021.
“This will allow them to cope with Covid-19 and will ensure a better and reformed healthcare service for the future.”
With additional PA reports
Online editors
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