HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE this evening reported 1,620 more cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.
A further 12 people with the coronavirus have also died, according to the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
This brings to 2,237 the total number of people with Covid-19 who have died in Ireland and 91,779 total confirmed coronavirus cases.
Of the cases notified today:
Chair of the NPHET Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group Professor Philip Nolan said: “The epidemiological situation is very serious and the virus is spreading rapidly amongst all age groups, increasing the risk to those most vulnerable to severe infection, such as the medically vulnerable and people over 60 years of age.”
He said the R-number currently stands at at least 1.6-1.8. The growth rate is estimated at 7%-10%.
“We project significant further increase in cases and hospitalisations in the coming days before public health measures take effect and are likely to see over 700-1000 people in hospital with COVID-19 early in the New Year,” Nolan said.
While it is difficult to face into further restrictions, it is vital that everyone plays their part by following the public health advice to protect those most vulnerable in the population.
Nolan said if the R-number is reduced to 1.4, we’ll be looking at 2,000 cases per day by 9 January and 3,000 cases per day by 23 January.
“If we bring the reproduction number down, but not enough, if we bring it down to 1.1, we’ll be looking at 1,800 cases a day by 6 January and close to 2,000 cases per day by the end of January,” he added.
“If we supress transmission of the virus, if we bring the reproduction number down to 0.9, we should peak at around 1,800 cases a day in early January and then slowly bring the disease back under control, to around 1,200 cases a day by the end of January.
“I would hope we can do better than that, but we need to at least do that.”
The Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said: “We are once again in the mitigation stage of this pandemic. The alarming escalation in the incidence of the virus in the general population gives great cause for concern.”
“This disease is now widespread in our communities and as a result we are asking everyone to behave as if they are a close contact.”
The 14-day incidence rate now stands at 296.7 cases per 100,000 people.
Northern Ireland this afternoon reported 1,929 further Covid-19 cases and 11 deaths.
Earlier today, the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said people need to “look at their plans” in the coming weeks and reduce their contact with others as the country deals with the third wave of Covid-19.
The government last night announced the country would re-enter a Level 5 lockdown for at least one month.
- Additional reporting by Press Association.
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