LAST UPDATE | 6 Aug 2020

THE ACTING CHIEF Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn has made an appeal to people in Laois, Kildare and Offaly to take particular caution following a “significant number of cases” in the region. 

While not suggesting that the National Public Health Emergency team was recommending new restrictions in those counties, he did not rule out some form of targeted approach in the future. 

Glynn, speaking at the Department of Health briefing this evening, appealed to people living in the three counties to follow public health advice and remain cautious. 

He asked people to pay “particular attention” to any new Covid-19-like symptoms and called on anyone who is a close contact of a confirmed case to avail of a test. 

“Everyone needs to double down their efforts,” he said, adding he is “not going to prejudge further information we get on these cases this evening and tomorrow.”

Glynn said that NPHET had been informed of the cases across the three counties this evening. In response to questions from reporters, he said that approximately 60 cases will likely be officially reported tomorrow from across Laois, Offaly and Kildare. 

“We need to understand where those cases have come from,” he said. 

Dr Glynn ruled out closing factories where a number of clusters had been identified saying it was not for NPHET to decide what happens in certain sectors or in individual businesses. 

This evening, the Department of Health confirmed a further 69 cases of Covid-19 in Ireland, with five further deaths. 

Four of the newly recorded deaths are from April and June.

This evening, health officials said that the reproduction number of the virus has risen to 1.8. 

Professor Philip Nolan, chair of NPHET’s Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said that a reproductive number of almost two is a “serious concern”. He warned that there is a significant risk of more widespread community transmission developing.