Coronavirus: Two Deaths Confirmed By Health Department

Latest news updates for Saturday 22nd August 2020.

Latest Figures:

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that 2 people with COVID-19 in Ireland have died.

There has now been a total of 1,777* COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of midnight Friday 21st August, the HPSC has been notified of 156 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 27,908** confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

Of the cases notified today;

81 are men / 75 are women

71% are under 45 years of age

68 are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case

15 cases have been identified as community transmission

55 in Dublin, 36 in Kildare, 12 in Tipperary, 9 in Limerick, 7 in Kilkenny, 6 in Waterford and the remaining 31 cases are in Carlow, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Laois, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow.

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

The COVID-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of COVID-19 in the community.

Dr. Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health said; “This weekend, if you are having people over, please have no more than 6 visitors, from no more than 3 households, to your home. It is vital that people all across the country follow the public health advice. If you have any symptoms, isolate and contact your GP by phone immediately.”

The total numbers in the midlands, as of measured at midnight on Thursday 20th August, stands at 1,655.

683 people in Westmeath have diagnosed with the illness, while the total in Offaly is 605 and 367 in Laois.

Note: The acting Chief Medical Officer, Ronan Glynn, releases figures for the counties with the highest number of cases as of midnight, and the latest county by county breakdown available from the Department of Health are measured at midnight on Thursday 20th August. 

GPs:

GP services are gearing up for the re-opening of schools across the country.

Dr Ray Walley - a member of the GP Expert Advisory Group on Covid says it will be challenging, but they've been preparing for weeks:

Prisoner:

An Irish prisoner has tested positive for Covid-19 in Dublin.

It's at the Dochas women's prison, and was detected as part of routine testing, while she has been kept in quarantine since being admitted to the facility 10 days ago.

They are the first prisoner in the country to test positive for the disease.

The Irish Prison Service says the confirmation of the case is a matter for the HSE and NPHET.

Fíona Ní Chinnéide from the Irish Penal Reform Trust says it is very important outbreaks don't occur:

PSNI:

Eight officers with the Police Service of Northern Ireland have tested positive for Covid-19.

Antrim and Newtonabbey stations have been closed while deep cleans are carried out.

The force says a number of other colleagues are self-isolating, and plans are in place to make sure their work isn't disrupted.

Testing:

HSE boss Paul Reid says yesterday saw the highest number of Covid-19 tests completed in a single day.

He's Tweeted this lunchtime, saying 13,000 tests were completed, adding that the 'end to end' completion time is now down to 2.1 days.

Mr Reid also says 98 percent of tests are coming back negative.

HSE data shows there were 19 people with Covid-19 being treated in 12 different hospitals around the country at 8pm last night.

Restrictions:

A Kildare TD says a further fortnight of restrictions is a 'very significant' setback.

People there are being asked to limit their movements for a further two weeks due to a high number of Covid-19 cases.

Meanwhile people in Laois and Offaly are spending their first full day free from lockdown in two weeks after restrictions were eased.

Minster of State Martin Hayden says the extension in Kildare is tough to take:

We're again being urged to 'hold firm' this weekend when it comes to Covid 19 restrictions.

Acting chief medical officer Ronan Glynn is urging people not to let their guard down, despite recent events:

Community leaders have repeatedly raised concerns over confusion about Covid 19 messaging.

While the Taoiseach's rejected the claims, Sinn Fein's Pearse Doherty says 'Covid chaos' is undermining public confidence.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly accepts the government made mistakes when putting the latest restrictions in place:

Northern Ireland:

71 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland in the past 24 hours.

It brings the total number of cases there to 6,647.

No new deaths have been reported.

Schools:

A leading health expert says it's very likely there'll be clusters of Covid-19 in schools when they reopen.

The local lockdown will continue in Kildare until September 6th - but schools will still reopen before that.

There have been 444 cases of coronavirus in Kildare since the restrictions were imposed two weeks ago.

And Dr Eoghan De Barra, a consultant in infectious diseases, says there's a big danger the virus will spread into schools:

WHO:

The World Health Organisation says the message over coronavirus "still hasn't got through" to many people.

It says the pandemic could be over in less than two years.

Spokesperson Dr Margaret Harris says control of the virus is down to us:

Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, from the World Health Organisation, also says Covid-19 could spread into schools.

Kildare:

A leading health expert's backing the decision to extend restrictions in Co Kildare.

Another 79 cases of the virus were confirmed in the Republic yesterday, with nine in Kildare.

A total of 444 people have been diagnosed with the virus in the county since the restrictions were imposed two weeks ago.

Dr Eoghan De Barra, a consultant in infectious diseases, says it was right to extend the lockdown:

Job losses:

Another 1,000 jobs will be lost in Kildare over the next two weeks, after the restrictions were extended.

County Kildare Chamber says that's on top of the 1,200 people who've been laid off over the past fortnight.

The government announced an extension of Kildare's restrictions yesterday - but they've been lifted in Offaly and Laois.

Kildare chamber chief executive Allan Shine says the county's economy is on its knees:

Schools:

The ASTI is seeking a meeting with the Health Protection Surveillance Centre ahead of schools reopening.

It says many members have concerns over the health and safety of students and teachers who have underlying illnesses.

Following a meeting of its Standing Committee it says there's also a need to ensure social distancing in schools and classrooms.

ASTI President, Ann Piggott says educators who are at high risk are anxious:

Lockdown:

The Garda Representative Association claims people in Kildare aren't being given enough information on the lockdown.

Gardaí will continue checkpoints in the county this weekend, after the restrictions were extended for another two weeks.

Last weekend, 164 vehicles in Kildare, Laois and Offaly were stopped to see if they were obeying the guidelines.

GRA general secretary Pat Ennis says the public needs better communication on the measures:

Local figures:

Laois was one of 13 counties which reported cases of Covid-19 yesterday.

There are a total of 79 new cases, but no new deaths related to the coronavirus.

Nearly three quarters of the new cases are among people under the age of 45.

21 cases are community transmission, which infectious diseases consultant Eoghan De Barra says continues a worrying trend.

43 in Dublin, 9 in Kildare, 6 in Cork, 6 in Tipperary and the remaining 15 cases are in Clare, Donegal, Laois, Limerick, Louth, Mayo, Roscommon, Wexford and Wicklow.

Dr. Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “Firstly I would like to thank the people of Kildare, Laois and Offaly, you have shown an incredible example of solidarity and social responsibility by following the enhanced public health advice for your region. Your actions have saved lives. The epidemiological situation in Kildare means that we must extend the public health measures for a further two weeks. While there is some cause for optimism, the 7 and 14 day incidence rates in Kildare remain very high. Evidence suggests that the measures are working, but more time is required to reduce the number of cases in Kildare.

“We as a nation must show solidarity with Kildare in our collective efforts, especially over the next two weeks, by working together to suppress this virus. We can protect each other by following the public health advice. I am asking all households across Ireland to play your part, reduce your social contacts, wash your hands, keep a 2m distance from each other and wear a facecovering in shops and on public transport. These actions are vital to protect our families and safeguard those who are most vulnerable to the disease.”

The total numbers in the midlands, as of measured at midnight on Wednesday 19th August, stands at 1,652.

683 people in Westmeath have diagnosed with the illness, while the total in Offaly is 605 and 364 in Laois.

Note: The acting Chief Medical Officer, Ronan Glynn, releases figures for the counties with the highest number of cases as of midnight, and the latest county by county breakdown available from the Department of Health are measured at midnight on Wednesday 19th August.