Coronavirus: Five More People Have Died From The Illness

Westmeath has had no new cases in seven days.

Latest figures:

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that a total of 5 people with COVID-19 have died.

There have now been a total 1,705* COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of midnight Friday 12 June the HPSC has been notified of 46 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 25,295 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

There are two new confirmed cases in the Midlands. 

Validation of data at the HPSC has resulted in the denotification of 1 confirmed case.

There's been a decrease in the number of cases in Westmeath. 

670 cases have been diagnosed in the county.

Laois has two new cases bringing its total to 264 confirmed cases of the virus while in Offaly there has been no increase with its total reminding on 481 confirmed cases.

Only five cases have been reported in the midlands since last Sunday.

Offaly had two new cases this week. 

No new cases has been identified in Westmeath in the past seven days. 

The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread.

Today’s data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Thursday 11 June (25,249 cases), reveals:

· 57% are female and 43% are male

· the median age of confirmed cases is 48 years

· 3,276 cases (13%) have been hospitalised

· Of those hospitalised, 416 cases have been admitted to ICU

· 8,123 cases are associated with healthcare workers

· Dublin has the highest number of cases at 12,179 (48% of all cases) followed by Cork with 1,533 cases (6%) and then Kildare with 1,426 cases (6%)

· Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 37%, close contact accounts for 60%, travel abroad accounts for 2%

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “Today’s increase in notifications of COVID-19 is not an increase in the daily incidence of the disease. When the cases are analysed according to the date the samples were taken, it shows that they were spread out over a number of days. All the indicators of the disease are stable or reducing. We will continue to closely monitor these every day."

UK:

NHS England says a further 67 people have died with coronavirus in hospitals.

The daily figures for Northern Ireland shows a further two people have died with Covid-19.

Six were recorded in Wales and five in Scotland.

China:

There are fears of a second wave of Covid-19 in China, where the outbreak began.

Parts of the capital Beijing are in lockdown after reports of a cluster of new locally transmitted coronavirus cases - the first for 50 days.

It's centred around a major wholesale market.

Professor Dale Fisher is from the World Health Organisation.

He say as lockdown measures are eased everywhere, there'll be more outbreaks like these:

Special needs:

A group representing parents of children with special needs says it's worried about the availability of a new summer education scheme announced by government.

Under the plan, students will be able to access supports at home or in school through July and August.

However, it's dependent on the number of teachers, SNA's, staff members and schools that sign-up.

Lorraine Dempsey from the Special Needs Parents Association, says the fact that it's voluntary is a concern:

Hotels:

Hotelier and TV personalityJohn Brennan believes Ireland's 'lucky' other countries have already begun opening hotels early.

Under the government's plan to ease Covid-19 restrictions, Irish hotels can open their doors again from June 29th.

Mr Brennan, who presents 'At Your Service' with brother Francis, says it means important lessons can be learnt:

China:

There are fears of a second wave of Covid-19 in Beijing.

Parts of the Chinese capital are in lockdown following reports of new, locally transmitted cases - the first in 50 days.

New Zealand:

20,000 people were at a rugby game as the sport resumed in New Zealand.

The country has eliminated Covid-19 following two months of restrictions, including a ban on international travel.

22 people died from the virus in New Zealand, while there has not been any new cases detected in the past three weeks.

Young people:

Young people aged between 10 and 24 are the most affected by the coronavirus lockdown.

The research in the Lancet jounral, has also called for more awareness of the effects social distancing has on young people and their relationships.

However, it says social media may have played a role in easing some of their anxiety.

Health expert, Dr. Amy Orben says the pandemic has affected different young people in different ways:

Northern Ireland:

There's a further easing of lockdown restrictions Northern Ireland from today.

People living alone can visit one other household indoors.

It means those who've spent weeks in isolation under lockdown can visit friends or family and stay overnight, without having to socially distance.

COVID-19: You don’t wear a mask in public? You might think twice after hearing Professor Lambert from The Mater Hospital.

Posted by Midlands 103 on Friday, June 12, 2020

Schools:

Teaching unions don't believe the Education Minister's plan for no social distancing in schools is credible.

A report to Cabinet has show that if the two-metre rule remains in place, primary school children would only get one day of classtime a week, while in secondary school it would be two-days

The TUI, along with the ASTI say they want to meet with the Department to come up with better ideas to protect teachers from the virus.

President of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland is Deirdre McDonald, she says even if the rule is reduced to one-metre, then it should be followed in schools:

The Teachers' Union of Ireland meanwhile have said the plan announced yesterday is "excessively speculative and pays insufficient attention to public health advice."

In a statement, it said it will meet with the Department of Education to discuss a "credible" plan for the re-opening of schools later in the year.

Schools across the country have been closed since March 13th due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A parent representatives group says parents are anxious over the lack of clarity around plans to reopen schools in September.

Aine Lynch, CEO of the National Parents Council -Primary, says a new approach is needed:

Travel:

The Government is being called on to give a date for when foreign travel is allowed into and out of the country.

The Irish Travel Agents Association say it doesn't add up when you look at the number of cases of Covid-19 here, while other European countries are planning to welcome non-domestic holidaymakers in the coming weeks.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said yesterday a decision for easing international travel restrictions wouldn't be made for another two weeks - advising people to hold off on booking flights for July.

Paul Hackett is a board member of the association, he says they are in shock:

Local figures:

The Covid-19 death toll has risen to 1,705, after a further 3 people died here.

Latest Department of Health figures show 13 new cases of the virus have also been recorded today.

Over three months on since the first case of Covid-19 in the Republic, and the number of confirmed cases now stands at 25,250.

A further 13 cases have been confirmed today, while 3 more people have died.

In a statement, the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Houlihan says the virus will continue to impact on the way we move about our daily lives for the foreseeable future, however we have already witnessed how our collective action can control the spread of the virus.

Covid-19-related deaths in Northern Ireland have fallen for the sixth week in a row, but one further death has been reported today, bringing the total to 539.

The total amount of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the midlands remains at 1,414. 

Westmeath has 671 cases, Laois has 262 confirmed cases of the virus while Offaly has 481 confirmed cases.

Only three cases have been reported in the midlands since last Sunday.

Offaly had two new cases this week with Laois' total increasing by one. 

No new cases has been identified in Westmeath in seven days. 

More from Midlands News

Download Our App