There have been an additional 13 deaths associated with COVID-19 reported by the Department of Health today, along with 938 new cases.
Of the cases notified today, 38 are in Galway. The 14-day incidence rate in the county is now 74.8 cases per 100,000 population.
While there were 10 deaths notified by the Department today, only 10 of them occurred in December.
Validation of data by the HPSC has also resulted in the denotification of 11 previously confirmed cases.
There have now been a total of 82,155 confirmed cases in Ireland, along with 2,184 deaths associated with COVID-19.
“The NPHET met today and reviewed the current epidemiological situation and has made recommendations to government,” said Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer.
“Every indicator of the disease is rising and rising rapidly. Our level of concern continues to escalate. We must do all we can individually and collectively to change the course of this disease.”
“Revise your Christmas plans to ensure social contacts are limited and that hand hygiene, physical distance, ventilation and face covering measures are in place if you must have visitors to your home.”
As of 2pm today there are 251 COVID-19 patients hospitalised in Ireland, of whom 25 are in the ICU.
Of the cases notified today:
- 416 are men and 517 are women
- 65% are under 45 years of age
- the median age is 36 years old
- 300 in Dublin, 110 in Cork, 72 in Limerick, 68 in Donegal, 41 in Kildare and the remaining 347 cases are spread across 21 other counties
The COVID-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of COVID-19 in the community.
Prof Philip Nolan, Chair of the Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group said that the situation has deteriorated in the past two days.
“The reproduction number is higher than we have reported since March at 1.5 – 1.8. The day on day growth rate is estimated at 7 – 9%.”
“These data emphasise the need for us to be exceptionally careful over Christmas and to adhere strictly to public health guidance.”
Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer added that people should act at all times as if those they come into contact with are infected.
“It is inevitable that people will get sick and die as a result of this escalation, but it is not too late for all of us to do all we can to minimise that impact and to protect as many people as possible.”
