[ad_1]
There have been four additional deaths related to Covid-19, the Health Protection Surveillance Center (HPSC) said.
The HPSC has been notified of 744 confirmed cases of the coronavirus.
Medical Director Dr. Tony Holohan said that due to the lower volume of tests conducted on Christmas Day and on St. Stephen’s Day, he believes there are higher levels of disease circulating in the community than current figures reflect. .
“Therefore, we expect to see a large increase in reported cases in the coming days.”
At 8 a.m. this morning, there are 324 Covid-19 patients in the hospital, of which 26 are in the ICU.
There have been 50 additional hospitalizations in the last 24 hours.
Dr. Holohan said the current situation in hospitals is a reminder of the severity of the disease.
“We have seen a significant increase in the number of hospitalizations in the last two weeks from less than 190 to 324 today.
“This indicates a deterioration in the disease trajectory nationwide and is a significant reminder of the severity of this disease.
“There have been further increases in key Covid-19 indicators across the country and the growth rate of the epidemic has accelerated in recent days.”
Dr. Holohan reminded people to stay home, not have visitors, and not to visit friends or family unless essential care was provided.
Of the 744 cases currently reported, Dublin accounts for the largest number with 246 cases.
Cork has the second highest number of cases with 131 followed by Limerick with 51, Wexford with 40 and Donegal with 33.
The remaining 243 cases are spread across 19 other counties.
The national incidence rate of 14 days per 100,000 is currently 209.6.
The incident rate in Donegal is double the national rate at 425.9.
Three other counties have a 14-day rate above 300: Wexford at 348.6, Limerick at 334.5, and Louth at 305.7.
Today’s numbers come as HSE expects to start vaccines on Tuesday, December 29, a day earlier than planned.
HSE chief Paul Reid told RTÉ This Week that he intends to start vaccines early next week.
Ireland will be the third last EU country to start shooting as the HSE grapples with staff training.
Today is the day for the launch of the Covid-19 vaccine in the European Union, after 27 states of the bloc received their first doses yesterday.
Germany, Hungary and Slovenia began giving injections earlier than planned last night with doctors from 18 other nations starting today.
The 10,000 doses from Ireland will remain in cold storage until at least Tuesday.
The HSE says it is still finalizing training and education materials for vaccinators and preparing an e-learning program.
Staff at the four vaccination sites must still receive training before the first vaccines can be administered.
That was originally planned for Wednesday, December 30, but HSE chief Paul Reid has since confirmed that he will move forward one day to Tuesday.
By then all EU states except Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands will have administered the first doses.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has admitted that Ireland is starting deployment at a slower pace than other countries.
“I think we will start a little slower, but we will catch up. We are part of the European system, we get 1.11% of the vaccine and that is proportional to our population.”
“I think we will probably start slower than other countries, but we will catch up. I don’t see it as a race.
“I think it’s important that we get it right.”
Meanwhile, the country has re-entered Level 5 restrictions in an attempt to stem the rapid increase in the number of cases seen in the past two weeks.
As of today, you are not allowed to travel outside of your county. Travel outside of your county is only allowed for essential purposes, such as attending medical appointments, providing care, or if your work is considered essential and cannot be done from home.
People who have spent Christmas away from their own residence are allowed to return home at their own pace.
The number of households that are allowed to visit another household has been reduced to one and will remain in one household until December 31.
All the stores remain open, but have been asked to postpone the usual January sales.
Christmas Eve saw the closure of restaurants, gastropubs, hair salons and barbers.
A public health expert says things will “hopefully” return to normal by Christmas 2021.
DCU health systems professor Dr. Anthony Staines says it could be 11 months before businesses such as pubs can open.
“Hopefully by next Christmas this is over, but it will have big implications for business, employment and employment over the summer, particularly the hotel industry, obviously.
“It has been suggested that the ‘wet pubs’ might not open until next November and you have to ask, how many will be left by next November?”
[ad_2]