Five more people have died due to Covid-19.
The National Public Health Emergency Team has announced that five more people have died due to Covid-19 in Ireland. The latest figures take Ireland's total known death toll to 1,738, which takes into account the denotification of five deaths.
Additionally, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been made aware of 15 new confirmed cases of the virus. The total known number of cases in the country now stands at 25,489. This takes into account the denotification of three cases.
Speaing at this evening briefing, CMO Dr. Tony Holohan said: "What has been a collective and effective national effort to suppress COVID-19 in Ireland, now also becomes an individual mission. Every person must risk assess their own environments, make appropriate decisions about where they will go and who they will meet, and how they can ensure their safety and the safety of those around them.
"Continue to follow public health advice, understand the risks of your actions and environments and stay safe."
Holohan's deputy, Dr. Ronan Glynn, further noted that cases of the virus are accelerating on the global level, with 60% of all cases announced in the past month.
It was noted at this evening's briefing that Ireland's R number has increased, suggesting that each individual case are now infecting more people.
Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said; “The reproductive number is now estimated to be closer to 1 than it has been in recent weeks. The R number is easily influenced by small changes to the transmission of the virus.
"We have noticed an increase in the number of cases towards the end of last week. It is a trend that NPHET will continue to monitor closely."
Dr. Vida Hamilton, National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead, Acute Operations, HSE: "Due to the good practices of the public our ICU’s were not overwhelmed. Although they were busy, every patient got the care they deserved. Some of us may have witnessed the reality of the frontlines in our hospitals on recent television documentaries.
"We should not lose sight of what is at risk and how fragile our systems are in the face of this pandemic. Please continue to follow public health advice."
