Search icon

Fitness & Health

24th Jul 2020

Over 40% of Covid-19 outbreak cases in Ireland in four-week period relate to travel

Conor Heneghan

red list

Five cases of Covid-19 in Ireland in July were linked with cafés and restaurants.

More than two in five cases of Covid-19 that were related to an outbreak of the virus over a four-week period in June and July were linked to travel.

Data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on Friday (24 July) revealed that over 40% of cases specifically related to an outbreak of the virus in a four-week period ending on 17 July were travel-related.

An outbreak is defined as two or more cases in the same location and time. There have been 13,431 positive Covid-19 cases in Ireland linked to an outbreak since 28 February, 44% of which are related to nursing homes.

In total, 52% of Covid-19 cases in Ireland up to 17 July are linked to an outbreak of the virus.

While a government green list of 15 countries to which Irish people can travel to and from without Covid-19 restrictions was published this week, the government has stressed its advice is for people not to travel abroad for non-essential reasons and to holiday at home this summer.

CSO data also revealed the following findings, as of 17 July:

  • Dublin continues to be the worst-hit county by Covid-19, accounting for 51% of total confirmed deaths.
  • The week ending up to and including 17 July was the seventh week in a row that Dublin had less than 100 weekly cases since the start of March.
  • The median age of new confirmed Covid-19 cases was 35 years old for the week ending 17 July.
  • The week ending 17 July was the fifth week in a row that Clare and Offaly recorded no new cases.
  • As of the week ending 17 July, Mayo, Westmeath and Wicklow recorded less than 10 new cases for the ninth week in a row.
  • Clare, Leitrim, Longford, Tipperary and Wexford recorded less than 10 new cases for the 10th week in a row.
  • Donegal, Kerry and Laois recorded less than 10 new cases for the 11th week in a row
  • Waterford recorded less than 10 new cases for the 12th week in a row.
  • Women and those aged between 25-44 continue to account for the highest number of confirmed cases
  • Following the reopening of cafés, restaurants and eligible pubs at the end of June, five cases related to restaurants and cafés were noted up until 17 July.
  • Health care workers made up almost a third of all cases.

As of Thursday evening (23 July), the total number of cases of Covid-19 in Ireland stood at 25,833, with 1,772 people having died as a result.

All CSO data related to Covid-19 can be accessed here.