Coronavirus: 13 Further Deaths Confirmed

News updates for Sunday 17th January 2021.

Latest figures:

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 13 additional deaths related to COVID-19.

All 13 of these deaths occurred in January.

The median age of those who died is 83 years, and the age range is 66 to 97 years. There was no newly reported death in healthcare workers. There was no newly reported death in a person under the age of 30.

There has been a total of 2,608 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of midnight, Saturday 16th January, the HPSC has been notified of 2,944 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 172,726 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

Of the cases notified today:

1,336 are men / 1,578 are women

57% are under 45 years of age

The median age is 40 years old

1,065 cases are in Dublin, 306 in Cork, 181 in Galway, 180 in Kildare, 160 in Limerick and the remaining 1,052 cases are spread across all other counties.

As of 2pm today, 1,928 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised of which 195 are in ICU. 68 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health said: “The situation in our hospitals is stark. We are seeing people of all ages being admitted to hospital and being taken into intensive care units. The levels of infection are such that your chances of transmitting or getting COVID-19 are very high, and we know that a proportion of those cases will lead to serious illness and mortality. There is no group who should feel the public health advice does not apply to them. It is only if we act together that we can keep ourselves, our loved ones, and health and social care facilities safe.”

“As we look forward to the week ahead, consider your choices and make the right ones. Do not go into work tomorrow if you can work from home. If you are an employer, facilitate remote working for your employees.”

The COVID-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of COVID-19 in the community. The dashboard now includes information on Total Vaccines Administered (1st Dose).

Today’s cases, 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 and new cases in last 14 days (as of midnight 16 January 2021) (incidence rate based on Census 2016 county population)

Nurses:

The INMO's calling for final year nursing students to get an increase in pay for their work.

It's after the Department of Health announced last night most clinical training for student nurses has been suspended.

The Department says all placements for trainee nurses up to third year are suspended for at least two weeks starting on Monday.

It says fourth-year students will continue their placements with appropriate supervision.

It's taking the step so qualified nurses and midwives can be released from supervision of student nurses to help with the Covid-19 response.

But the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation is seeking clarity over final year students, who'll continue to work over the coming two weeks - it wants their pay increased to the healthcare assistant grade, as it was in March.

The union says this would better reflect the workload and risk those final-year interns face and they need to be valued properly.

Contract tracing:

The Chief Medical Officer says the improvements in covid cases is not happening fast enough.

Dr. Tony Holohan says more than 1 in 10 people in some counties is either a case or close contact.

60 more people with Covid 19 have died and the number of new cases has dropped to 3,231.

DCU Professor Anthony Staines says the country's contact tracing isn't good enough:

On the spot fines:

Over a hundred people were handed on-the-spot fines for breaking lockdown travel rules in Co Wicklow yesterday.

Its close to triple the number of fines issued nationwide up to Thursday.

Gardaí received new powers last Monday to issue an on-the-spot fine of 100 euro to anyone found breaking the travel restrictions under the Public Health Act.

37 people were issued with tickets up to Thursday, including several for alleged offences last weekend.

But yesterday, well over a hundred more people were ticketed -- and that was just in Co Wicklow.

And officers manning checkpoints in the Garden County gave cautions to over two hundred OTHER drivers who agreed to turn back and go home.

The force says while most are compliant with their roadside instructions, there are still "people who don't want to take that advice".

Schools:

Labour TD Aodhain O'Riordain's hitting out at the Education Minister for saying special schools would re-open on Thursday.

He says an email from her Department on Friday night announced and directed the return of staff without their full agreement.

The Forsa union, which represents workers says a deal hasn't been reached.

Deputy O'Riordain says the union's concerns need to be addressed before the Department issues updates:

Sinn Fein TD Donnchadh O'Laoghaire says the Education Minister could resolve the situation with the union if her department communicated better:

Local figures:

60 more people with covid 19 have died and 3,231 new cases have been confirmed.

931 cases are in Dublin, with 388 in Cork, 238 in Louth, 155 in Waterford and 151 in Limerick.

123 cases are in the midlands. 

Laois had another 48 people test positive for virus, with another 44 new cases in Offaly and Westmeath has 31 new cases. 

The Lake county has the second lowest incidence rate in the country. 

1,854 coronavirus patients are hospital, of which 191 are in ICU. 119 more people have been brought to hospital in the past 24 hours.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan says the improvements in cases isn't happening fast enough the infection level is far, far too high.