Coronavirus: 3 New Deaths Recorded

Latest news updates on Tuesday 16th June.

Latest figures:

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that a total of 3 people with COVID-19 have died.

There have now been a total of 1,709 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of midnight Monday 15 June the HPSC has been notified of 14 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 25,334* confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

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, Sunday 14 June (25,320 cases), reveals:

·57% are female and 43% are male

·the median age of confirmed cases is 48 years

·3,282 cases (13%) have been hospitalised

·Of those hospitalised, 418 cases have been admitted to ICU

·8,139 cases are associated with healthcare workers

·Dublin has the highest number of cases at 12,228 (48% of all cases) followed by Cork with 1,533 cases (6%) and then Kildare with 1,434 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%

There's been no increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the midlands.

There are 670 confirmed cases in the Westmeath, 481 in Offaly, and 264 in Laois.

The total number of confirmed cases with the region is 1,415.

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “As of midnight Monday 14 June, 386,572 tests have been carried out. Over the past week, 18,758 were carried out. 146 tests were positive, giving a positivity rate of 0.8%.”

New Zealand:

Two new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in New Zealand - just days after the country declared itself Covid-free.

In a statement, health officials said the new infections were related to recent travel from the UK.

Their borders remain closed to everyone except residents and citizens, who will still have to quarantine if they go back.

Vaccine:

Scientists from Imperial College London are to begin testing a potential coronavirus vaccine this week.

The 300 volunteers taking part, aged between 18 and 70, will get two doses over the coming weeks. 

If it's successful, the UK government-backed research will be expanded to 6,000 participants. 

A separate jab from Oxford University is already being tested on people.

Study:

A new study suggests that one in five people across the world has an underlying health condition that could increase the severity of Covid-19 - if they catch it.

Scientists used data from almost 200 countries, and found about four percent of the worldwide population would need hospital treatment if infected.

It's hoped the study will help medics develop strategies for those most at risk. 

Facemasks:

Almost 1.7 million people are now reporting wearing face masks in public spaces.

That's based on latest data from the Department of Health, which shows an increase of six percent on last week.

Wearing face coverings isn't mandatory in Ireland, but it's recommended in situations where a two-metre distance is hard to maintain.

No Covid-19 deaths were reported yesterday, while a further 18 cases were confirmed.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ronan Glynn says the small increase in the numbers wearing face coverings is encouraging, but he'd like to see even more people wearing them in public:

Housing:

It's estimated 10,000 fewer new homes will be built this year because of the pandemic. 

Projections for the year indicated up to 26,000 units would be ready for sale. 

The Banking and Payments Federation as few as 14,000 could be finished, with capacity in the building sector down as much as 50 per cent. 

But Chief Economist, Dr Ali Ugur says no dip in demand from first-time buyers is expected: 

Virus:

No covid-19 patients were reported to have died yesterday for the first day since March -- while 18 further cases were confirmed here. 

It's emerged Ireland had more deaths than in a normal year in March and April -- but the Chief Medical Officer says that trend stopped in May. 

He was responding to analysis published by the Business Post at the weekend based on death notices. 

It argued Ireland's "excess deaths" up to the start of May were higher than in other European countries. 

But Dr Tony Holohan says the elevated death rate here hasn't lingered the same way:

Local figures:

There hasn't been an increase in confirmed cases of covid-19 in the midlands since last Thursday.

The region's total remaining on 1,415.

There were 670 cases recorded in Westmeath, 481 in Offaly, and 264 in Laois.