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PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS have confirmed a further 1,283 cases of Covid-19 in Ireland this afternoon.
The standing total of confirmed cases since the first outbreak of the virus here has reached 49,962.
The Department of Health has reported an additional three deaths today, bringing the total number of people who have died to 1,852.
The national 14-day incidence rate as of midnight is now 251 per 100,000.
Of today’s cases, 651 are among women and 628 are among men, with 68% in people under the age of 45.
The median age of people with a case confirmed in today’s update is 31.
The highest number of cases confirmed today was in Dublin, where 408 new cases have been reported.
156 cases were confirmed in Cork, 88 in Kildare, 80 in Meath, 55 in Limerick and the remaining 496 cases are spread across the other 21 counties.
As of 2pm, 277 patients with Covid-19 are hospitalised, of which 33 are in ICU. 17 additional hospitalizations were made in the last 24 hours.
An announcement on tighter restrictions is expected tomorrow as the Cabinet meets to make a decision on its response to the rising incidence of Covid-19.
Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris has said that the government will take “decisive” action tomorrow to bring in new restrictions, and that any action taken will be implemented nationwide.
Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week in Politics, Harris said that “I want people to know that the government will act tomorrow. The action will be decisive.”
“It’s clear now that the virus is at such a level within all our communities that the county-by-county approach is not sufficient,” Harris said.
Yesterday, the three coalition party leaders, along with the Ministers for Health, Finance, and Public Expenditure, met to discuss whether Ireland should adopt Level 5 restrictions following a recommendation from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
NPHET is advising the government for the second time in two weeks to move Ireland to Level 5 restrictions to curb the increasing spread of the virus.
If NPHET’s advice was fully implemented, Level 5 restrictions would be imposed for a six week period.
However, it is understood that there is an inclination in the government to impose Level 4 restrictions with some modifications to effectively bring limitations between Level 4 and Level 5.
An official decision will only be made by the full Cabinet, which is due to meet tomorrow.
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Not as much since the kids were born. I do love a good book though!
@Brian Dunne: same as that Brian!
@Mrs Doyle: Who needs books when we have the comment section of journal.ie?
Far more entertaining than any book and the standard of writing is top class!!
@Justin Gillespie: ok!
@Brian Dunne: So read some *to* the kids!
My teenage daughter’s bookcase is stuffed with books, she absolutely loves reading. I’ve saved a fortune since we started going to a library.
@Mrs Doyle: Library’s are one of the great bastion’s of civilisation. Spent a lot of time in them during the last recession.
Always loved reading ever since I was a child. I can’t understand why some people don’t read books as they’re missing out on so much. Charity shops are brilliant for getting books for very little money.
I don’t count how many books a year but I definitely read every day…even if it’s just 5 minutes before sleep.
@Lesley Barclay: I am exactly the same. Always have a book on the go.
I use the Borrow box app via the library for audiobooks in the car or for walking. You may have to reserve and wait a few weeks for a newer book but it’s an excellent service.
Usually have 2/3 more on the Kindle as well. I love them but I haven’t really gone back to physical books since lockdown.
@Sara McS: I love Borrowbox. I use the App for audio books when I’m cooking or to send me to sleep!
@Sara McS: I have a kindle and really loved it, especially when going away on holidays, but of late I’m back to the real book, and must say I do prefer to have the feel of the real thing.
I always have a book or two on the go.
Clonmel library is just Awesome, and staff so so helpful.
Every time I pick up a book, the whole house decides they need to talk to me lol
@Anna Carr: ….She mused to herself, with an almost wry smile raising itself upon her face as she lowered the book to her lap. ‘Ill just finish this paragraph’. But again the questions came: ‘What ya doing? Good book? – what’s it about??’. ‘Everytime’, she heard herself saying to herself. Will I ever finish this book’?
I’m about halfway through the 750 books I own!
Read 3/4 days a week sometimes only for 15/20 minutes though. Probably get through 20 plus books a year. Majority on my kindle, I like to get books at Christmas though.
I’ve been re-reading the Miles Davis autobiography for the past few years, but a lad down the pub just sent me the Barrytown Trilogy because he thought I should be ashamed of myself that I hadn’t read it, so that should keep me busy for the next few years.
Give me the company of books over people, any day! You can trust a good book. People? Not so much, in my experience.
@Sean May: Touched a nerve ….
Recently bought a new kindle. I’ve actually started reading again. It’s only a few minutes before bed, to wind down, but I try and do it every night. It means less time on my phone right before trying to sleep, which is a good thing.
Where’s the slot for two or three a week?
Used to spend a fortune on books, but bought a kindle for economic reasons. Unfortunately price difference between printed books which I prefer and the price on kindle is a massive difference. I would rather support a local book shop, but the cost is the problem. Can understand the author and publisher ,the shop must benefit from the sale, but the price can’t compare with kindle.
Wilbur Smith was my favourite author. One could almost smell the elephant s#/t he was so descriptive of Africa.
I read the Beano and pass it on to a lady who gives it to her young nieces. I used to read Mad magazine and miss its demise. Alfred E. Neuman’s catch line What me Worry? is also my philosophy. I miss the Dandy with Lord Snooty and his pals. Posh mags like the New York Review of Books I can only get occasionally if I visit a certain shop in Dublin. From a local grocery shop I can buy Ireland’s Own – the week wouldn’t be the same without it. I borrow bewks from the local library.
How are you supposed to get to sleep without reading your book? Ken Follett, Hilary Mantel, Philippa Gregory…… brilliant escapism while learning history at the same time
A few a year. Bravo Two Zero by Andy McNab: BRILLIANT!
The poll would be better if we distinguished between paper and audio books. I find lots of books only work for me in one format but not the other.
@Des Ryan: it asks how often you “read” a book, not much reading to an audio book
Since I have a kobo reader I have read over 1600 books and still reading! My kobo goes every where with me and the price to buy a book is low enough that I don’t feel the need to buy less! It is fantastic!
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