Coronavirus: A Further 26 People Have Died

Latest news updates for Sunday 26th April 2020.

Latest figures:

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that a total of 26 people with COVID-19 have died, of which 23 were laboratory confirmed. 

There have now been a total of 1,087* COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of 1pm Sunday 26th April, the HPSC has been notified of 701 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 19,262 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.

There are 16 new confirmed cases in Westmeath bringing the total to 437.

Laois had just one new confirmed case and the total now stands at 205 cases and Offaly has 225 which is three more than yesterday. 

Today’s data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Friday 24th April (18,431 cases), reveals:

·        57% are female and 42% are male

·        the median age of confirmed cases is 49 years

·        2,576 cases (14%) have been hospitalised

·        Of those hospitalised, 349 cases have been admitted to ICU

·        5,064 cases are associated with healthcare workers

·        Dublin has the highest number of cases at 9,224 (50% of all cases) followed by Cork with 1,110 cases (6%)

·        Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 63%, close contact accounts for 33%, travel abroad accounts for 4%

Ireland On Call Initiative:

The HSE says 1,600 offers have been made to people who’ve applied to help tackle Covid-19 through the Ireland On Call Initiative.

Most are made up of doctors, nurses and healthcare assistants, with 300 of them currently being assigned to duty.

Chief operations officer Anne O'Connor says recruitment's also taking place in other areas:

Spain:

The sound of children shouting has returned to Spain's streets for the first time in six weeks.

Under-14s can now go outside after 44 days of complete seclusion.

Up to three children are allowed on walks with a parent for up to one hour, within one kilometre from home.

These kids in Madrid are happy to be out. 

Long-Term Testing and Contact Tracing:

The head of the HSE says a new long-term model's needed for testing and contact tracing due to the lasting nature of Covid-19.

Today it was confirmed 100,000 coronavirus tests will be carried out weekly by the third week in May.

A further 200 million euro worth of personal protective equipment is also being ordered for frontline healthcare workers.

HSE CEO, Paul Reid says a new strategy's now needed to manage the illness alongside existing health systems for years to come:

Long Term Care Facilities:

There are currently 425 long term care facilities receiving Covid-19 supports.

75 of those are considered to be at significant risk and are receiving urgent help.

The HSE’s Clinical Lead for Older People, Siobhan Kennelly, says steps are being taken to manage outbreaks:

The Irish Dental Association:

The Irish Dental Association says its members are being ignored by the government during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The IDA says many dentists can't do emergency procedures as they are unable to afford expensive personal protective equipment.

The organisation also says representations to the ministers for health and finance have gone 'unanswered'.

IDA Chief Executive, Fintan Hourihan says dentists have been let down by government.

Nursing Homes:

75 nursing homes have been given a "status red" - meaning there's a significant risk to how they're operating.

The HSE is currently supporting 425 long term residential care facilities affected by Covid 19.

Chief Operations Officer, Anne O'Connor, explains what it means for a nursing home to be "status red":

Testing:

The HSE says it'll be able to carry out 100 thousand tests a week for Covid-19 over the next few weeks.

There's expected to be a rise in demand for testing in the coming days when new criteria is introduced.

It'll see anyone with a cough, fever or shortness of breath eligible for a test.

CEO of the HSE, Paul Reid, says a plan's now been agreed to ramp up capacity:

Tracing:

A new app aimed at tracing the contacts of people confirmed to have Covid-19 could be rolled out as soon as next month.

According to the Business Post, the HSE app is at an advanced stage of testing.

It'll gather information on the virus' geographic spread and collect phone numbers, the age, sex and symtoms of people who think they have the illness.

People will also receive an alert if they were in close proximity to a confirmed case.

Global deaths:

More than 200-thousand people worldwide have now died with the coronavirus, according to the latest figures form John Hopkins University.

There are also more than 2.8 million cases of Covid-19 globally.

The US has suffered the highest number of fatalities with the loss of 50-thousand people.
 

Recovery:

The Health Minister says around 61% of people who've had Covid-19 in the Republic have recovered.

New figures show another 52 people have died from the virus, bringing the death toll to 1,063.

In his latest twitter update, Simon Harris says there are now 118 people in intensive care in Ireland with the coronavirus, down from 140.

He's welcoming the drop in ICU cases, but says people can't afford to be complacent:

Restrictions:

Gardai say anyone visiting the state has to abide by the laws of the Republic.

It's after reports anyone down here on a day trip from the North wouldn't be affected by the coronavirus rules.

Reports say the restrictions on movement south of the border due to coronavirus don't apply to people on day trips from Northern Ireland.

It's reported there's a gap in the law that would mean the regulations on travel don't affect them and they can't be arrested.

But in a statement, gardai are urging everyone resident or visiting this State to stick to the public health guidelines to protect themselves and others from COVID-19.

The force says it remains the case that anyone visiting the State even temporarily, is amenable to such criminal laws of the Republic during their time here.

It says the detail of a particular piece of legislation is a matter for the relevant Department.

UK:

Boris Johnson's office says he'll be back at work on Monday - two weeks after recovering from coronavirus.

Downing Street says the British Prime Minister's raring to go, and met colleagues on Friday to discuss the Covid-19 crisis.

When he was released from hospital, he praised NHS staff who looked after him:

Spain:

Spain's Prime Minister says people will be allowed out to exercise from next Saturday if the number of new coronavirus cases continues to fall.

Spaniards have been living under one of Europe's strictest lockdowns for six weeks now.

They're only allowed out for food, medicine and essential work but not to exercise.

Latest figures:

52 people with covid-19 have died in the Republic, according to the latest HPSC figures.

377 new confirmed cases, bringing total to 18,561.

Pandemic death toll here now 1,063.

The midlands has 847 confirmed cases.

421 patients in Westmeath have tested positive. 

There are 222 people with the illness in Offaly. 

Laois has 204 confirmed cases.