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A total of 1,216 more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Ireland, while six more deaths have been confirmed.
The latest figures were announced by the Health Department this afternoon.
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.
“Within weeks of easing the measures in early December, we have now returned to very high levels of COVID-19 circulating in the community that we have not seen since the peak of Wave Two of this disease. This is very about . “
“While today is a positive day with the arrival of the Pfizer / BioNTech COVID-19 (Comirnaty) vaccine, 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. “
(Image: Marc O’Sullivan)
Vaccine update
The Taoiseach has hailed “a day of great hope” when the first coronavirus vaccine arrived in Ireland on St. Stephen’s Day.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the first to be approved for use in Ireland by the European Medicines Agency.
The initial batch of 10,000 doses will begin on Wednesday.
Micheal Martin wrote on Twitter: “The first delivery of COVID19 vaccines has arrived in Ireland, a day of great hope as we approach 2021.
“Those who work in our health services deserve great recognition as they quickly and safely begin deploying the most vulnerable in our society.”
(Image: Stephen Donnelly Twitter)
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said vaccines will begin in four days.
The minister posted a photo on Twitter of himself standing next to the ultra-low temperature refrigerators needed to store the vaccine.
He wrote: “When is it worth photographing a fridge? When you just put the first Covid vaccines from Ireland in it
“The first doses have just arrived and many of them are in that very, very cold refrigerator. We will start vaccinating in four days.”
HSE CEO Paul Reid described Saturday as a “momentous day” for the country.
He tweeted: “An early morning start to a momentous day. Leaving to receive the first delivery of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine for HSE. Surely there will be better days ahead. For now, StaySafe.”
Later, Reid posted a video of the vaccines being transported in a warehouse.
He said: “It has arrived! Receiving the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine in our cold chain storage this morning.
“We can now have a ‘two-way’ approach to our response to COVID19. Public health measures alongside the vaccine, for a better future.”
The vaccine should be given first to the most vulnerable in society, such as nursing home residents.
(Image: Marc O’Sullivan)
However, Taoiseach Micheal Martin warned that it will be up to six months before things start to get back to normal.
He said: “The first six months of 2021 we will see improvements, but we certainly will not see normality in the first six months.”
Martin said the initial phase will make a “significant difference” and protect the most vulnerable.
He added: “Certainly the manufacture of the vaccine will certainly increase, starting in March.”
(Image: Collins Photo Agency)
Martin said May and June have been identified as “critical” months, adding: “Starting in the summer we will see a degree of normalcy, but I cannot be definitive.”
He said recent concern over the emergence of a mutant strain of Covid-19 in parts of England highlights the continued uncertainty.
The Taoiseach expressed confidence in providing long-term vaccines.
“By the end of January, he will have three shots and what I’m saying is conservative.
“I can also see a scenario where manufacturing increases more rapidly and where larger volumes of vaccines reach the member states more quickly, that’s a more hopeful scenario.”
The state entered its third lockdown on Christmas Eve when a series of restrictions were introduced.
Bars, restaurants, hair salons and hair salons have closed in a bid to quell the spread of the coronavirus.
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