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There have been six more deaths and 582 new cases of Covid-19 reported to the Department of Health.
A total of 2,149 people have died from the disease here, and the cumulative number of infections now stands at 78,254. This includes the denotation of six previously confirmed cases.
There are 34 coronavirus patients in intensive care, an increase of three from yesterday. There are 198 people with Covid-19 in Irish hospitals, with an additional 13 hospitalizations in the last 24 hours.
Medical Director Dr. Tony Holohan said: “Over the past week, we have expressed great concern that the level of infection was deteriorating by the day. Today’s data adds further evidence that the situation is worsening more rapidly. than we expected.
“The country simply cannot cope with this level of infection as we approach Christmas week. With vaccines offering hope in the coming months for our most vulnerable groups, we want to keep them alive and healthy so they can receive them.”
“Each of us must do everything possible to protect public health: cut your contacts, see only those you need to see. Choose to socialize safely, outdoors if possible. If you see a crowd, avoid it.
“By choosing to act safely now, together we can limit the impact this disease will have in the weeks and months ahead, and by doing so, we can protect the vulnerable and prevent unnecessary deaths.”
Of the cases reported today, 310 are men and 265 are women, 60% of whom are under 45 years of age.
There were 193 cases in Dublin, 59 in Wexford, 47 in Louth, 42 in Meath, 34 in Cork and the remaining 207 cases are spread across all other remaining counties.
The 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 population nationwide is now 100.8. Donegal has the highest infection rate in the country at 244.4, followed by Louth (222.7), Kilkenny (194.5) and Carlow (170.4).
Counties with the lowest incidence rate include Leitrim (25), Clare (25.2), Westmeath (34.9), Cork (38.5), and Roscommon (44.9).
Earlier today, the Irish Organization of Nurses and Midwives has said that nurses will begin training next week to administer the Covid-19 vaccine and said that it is vital that the health and well-being of healthcare workers are protected at this time. .
INMO Secretary General Phil Ní Sheaghdha told RTÉ Today with Claire Byrne that INMO is engaging twice a week with the Health Service Executive regarding the administration of the vaccine program, which he said will be led by nurses.
He said that overcrowding continues to be a problem in hospitals and that this affects social distancing and safe work practices.
Ms Ní Sheaghdha said that there has been a very high incidence of infections from healthcare workers with 12,500 infections recorded as of this week.
He said that in the coming weeks “we have to make sure that hospitals can cope, because when people get sick with Covid-19 they get very sick very quickly.”
He said ICUs and emergency services are adapting, but staff are very tired and “we have to make sure we don’t have a similar situation to Northern Ireland.”
Ms Ní Sheaghdha said there is enormous pressure on nurse rosters and that with the Covid figures “this week they are going the wrong way and you have to make sure that healthcare workers are not overwhelmed.”
He said tram numbers recently rose to 316 and this would be concerning even without a pandemic.
Ms Ní Sheaghdha said that INMO is really concerned that despite the 78 new beds at Limerick University Hospital, overcrowding is still a big problem.
She said the HSE needs to “look under the hood” to see why this continues.
Additionally, she said that female nursing students have reluctantly agreed to independent review of their assignments.
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