Coronavirus: 373 Further Cases Reported Today

Thursday, 17 June 2021 16:53

The CMO says he's expecting a near elimination of COVID-19 in the vaccinated population.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 373* confirmed cases of COVID-19.

As of 8am today, 54 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 18 are in ICU. 3 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “We are now experiencing near elimination of COVID-19 in the vaccinated population. For the 50-65’s who are in the process of receiving protection from full vaccination, incidence is dropping. Incidence is also reducing in most age groups, showing commendable compliance with public health measures as the vaccination programme is rolled out to more and more people.

“If you are fully vaccinated you can safely resume normal life - meeting other fully vaccinated people from up to two households indoors without masks or social distancing, and meeting unvaccinated people from one other household indoors and without masks. Those of us awaiting vaccination should continue to wash/sanitize hands regularly, manage contacts, avoid crowds, wear masks where appropriate and socialise outdoors.”

Dr. Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “Recent advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) states that mixing of vaccine doses is not recommended. I would urge anyone due to receive their 2^nd dose of AstraZeneca vaccine to do so, completing their protection against COVID-19."

Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said: “All indicators of the disease are improving nationally. In April/ May incidence was stable at 400-500 cases a day – this has now reduced to a five day average of 303. Hospital admissions have reduced from 103 to 57 in the past two weeks. If we can continue to weigh public health measures with vaccine uptake and continue to keep new variants, including Delta, at bay then the risk profile of COVIID-19 in Ireland will alter for the better.”

The COVID-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of COVID-19 in the community including daily data on Ireland’s COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.