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The Cabinet Covid-19 subcommittee will meet today to consider the issue of incremental fines to enforce regulations related to the pandemic.
The National Public Health Emergency Team wrote to the Government last night to tell it that it remains deeply concerned about the growing number of Covid-19 cases.
He has concerns but did not recommend further restrictions after a meeting yesterday.
Last night, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly told Dáil’s Medical Director, Dr. Tony Holohan, he spoke about the possibility of moving to Level 4 before last Sunday’s NPHET meeting.
However, the minister said he was puzzled when the Level 5 recommendation was made later that night.
Donnelly said the Government believes that all the necessary conditions to move to Level 5 have not been met.
He said he never suggested that NPHET pursue a solo career and that Dr. Holohan has the right to call an NPHET meeting whenever he wants.
Donnelly also told the Dáil that the R number for the country is now 1.2. He said that as cases increase, the R number has dropped.
Yesterday, the Department of Health was notified of one more death related to Covid-19 and 506 more cases.
It brings the number of deaths related to Covid-19 to 1,817. There have now been 40,086 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Ireland.
In a statement, the NPHET said that of the new cases, 240 are men and 265 are women, with 64% of the new cases being under the age of 45.
Dublin has the highest number of new cases with 91, while 76 were reported in Cork, 53 in Donegal, 42 in Meath and the remaining 244 cases are in 21 counties.
Currently cases: 91 in Dublin, 76 in Cork, 53 in Donegal, 42 in Meath, and the remaining 244 cases are in 21 counties.
– Fergal Bowers (@FergalBowers) October 8, 2020
NPHET said 39% of new cases are associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case, while 59 cases have been identified as community transmission.
A detailed breakdown of Covid-19 cases by local electoral areas shows that the Lifford / Stranorlar area of Donegal has the highest rate of the virus in the country.
Between September 22 and October 5, Lifford / Stranorlar had a 14-day incidence rate of 602 cases per 100,000 residents.
Other areas of Donegal have also seen high incidence rates of the virus. Carndonagh has 347 cases per 100,000, while Letterkenny has 332.
Granard in Co Longford has a rate of 384, while the city of Monaghan has a rate of 317.
Meanwhile, Paul Reid has said that trends in the spread of Covid-19 “remain of great concern” to the HSE.
The HSE CEO spoke at a press conference yesterday, hearing that as of Wednesday there were 157 people receiving treatment for Covid-19 in the hospital and 27 people in the ICU.
He said the hospital system is “challenged, but not overwhelmed.”
Reid said some hospitals may have to start postponing or canceling procedures and may have to use some of their augmentation beds.
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