Number of people hospitalized with Covid-19 in 336 as update of NPHET in AstraZeneca

THE NUMBER OF people hospitalized with Covid-19 in Ireland continues to decline with 336 hospitalized cases reported this morning.

The number of people in ICU is now 83.

It comes amid growing concern over an increase in outbreaks after health officials confirmed another 582 new cases of Covid-19 last night.

Professor Philip Nolan said the number of reported cases is static or slowly decreasing, but expressed concern about the increased level of social contact and workplace attendance.

According to Professor Nolan, less than a third of transmissions occur in the workplace, but the problem begins when it comes home from a workplace outbreak.

The National Public Health Emergencies Team (NPHET), the National Immunization Advisory Committee, and the HPRA (Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority) are reviewing the EMA’s findings on yesterday’s AstraZeneca jab. NPHET is expected to make recommendations to the Minister of Health later today.

“We will be deliberating among the organizations tonight and tomorrow morning, and we will post an update tomorrow once we have reached a position,” said Dr. Ronan Glynn, deputy medical director last night.

The EMA ruled yesterday that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and effective and that it is not associated with an increased risk of blood clots.

Several countries in Europe, including Ireland, stopped using the vaccine in recent days following reports from the Norwegian Medicines Agency of serious events in four patients.

Irish officials said the decision to suspend use of the vaccine was made on a precautionary principle. Experts from the World Health Organization recommended on Wednesday that countries continue to use the AstraZeneca vaccine, but said they were investigating its safety.

According to the most recent figures as of Monday, 620,580 doses of vaccine have been administered in Ireland.

Of these, 455,182 were first doses and 165,398 people are now fully vaccinated.