Coronavirus: Department Of Health Confirms 9 More People Have Died

Latest news updates on Thursday 28th May.

Figures:

The number of overall cases of coronavirus in the midlands remains unchanged at 1,401. 

There has been one new confirmed case in Westmeath, bringing the total there to 665. 

However, one case in Offaly has been re-designated so the figure has reduced to 478.

There's no new cases in Laois once again, the total there is now 258. 

Nationally, A further 9 people with Covid 19 have died in the Republic, and there are 46 new confirmed cases.

The death toll stands at 1,639 and the total number of cases is 24,841.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that a total of 9 people with COVID-19 have died.
There have now been a total 1,639* COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of midnight Wednesday 27th May the HPSC has been notified of 46 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 24,841 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, Tuesday 26 May (24,795 cases), reveals:
·        57% are female and 43% are male
·        the median age of confirmed cases is 48 years
·        3,267 cases (13%) have been hospitalised
·        Of those hospitalised, 404 cases have been admitted to ICU
·        7,920 cases are associated with healthcare workers
·        Dublin has the highest number of cases at 11,996 (48% of all cases) followed by Cork with 1,458 cases (6%) and then Kildare with 1,414 cases (6%)
·        Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 40%, close contact accounts for 58%, travel abroad accounts for 2%

The National Public Health Emergency Team met today (Thursday 28 May) to continue its review of Ireland’s ongoing response and preparedness to COVID-19.

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “Throughout this pandemic NPHET has maintained a consistent focus on mortality, being very aware of the sad toll of lost loved ones on families.

“A mortality paper was prepared and discussed by NPHET today and identifies that mortality in Ireland has been within the lower range in overall terms compared with other health systems across Europe.

“Ireland will continue to report both confirmed and probable deaths from COVID-19 in all settings and direct public health measures to limit the burden of mortality.”

Dr. Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “Today, NPHET agreed in principle to include in the case definition the sudden loss of smell (anosmia) and loss of taste (ageusia). This is subject to updated guidance from the ECDC, which is expected to be published tomorrow.”

Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said; “The reproduction number is currently estimated to be 0.5. ICU and hospital admissions and number of deaths per day continue to decline. The number of cases per day remain stable.

“Next week we will see figures that reflect the impact of Phase 1 measures on key disease spread indictors. It is our hope that the r-number will remain below one and our progress is preserved.”

Childcare pods:

Children older than six will be asked to keep a distance between each other in play pods. 

It's one of the plans issued to providers for the reopening of childcare facilities, according to the Irish Examiner. 

Services are due to restart for essential workers at the end of next month. 

DCU health professor Anthony Staines says physical distancing in play pods will be tough to implement. 

UK:

In the UK, Boris Johnson's hinted pubs and restaurants may be allowed to open before July.

During an appearance before a committee of senior MPs, the British prime minister suggested a solution that would allow some hospitality businesses to trade may be possible:

Denmark:

Denmark has reopened quicker than planned as the country's infection rate has remained steady for six weeks. 

Just bars, nightclubs, gyms and indoor sports are still under restrictions. 

Copenhagen based journalist Emma Firth says there are still some concerns around a second wave of infection:

🚨New information on recovery rate from #Covid19 in Ireland🚨 89.7% of people who have been diagnosed with this virus have recovered either in the community or been successfully discharged from hospital. That’s 22,089 people who have recovered. Our collective efforts are working

— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) May 27, 2020

Banking payment breaks:

More than 140,000 Covid-19 payment breaks have been approved by Irish banks since being introduced in mid-March.

The service gives homeowners and businesses who's incomes have been affected by the pandemic, the option to defer their mortgage or business payments for up to six months.

The 140,000 figure includes 78,000 mortgage payments and 35,800 SME loans.

Brian Hayes, from the Banking and Payments Federation, says people still looking to apply have until the end of June to do so:

Pressure over 2m rule:

A junior minister says it's baffling that the government isn't following World Health Organisation advice on the physical distancing length. 

John Halligan's also calling for an accelerating of the lifting of lockdown restrictions.

Junior Minister Halligan has said the current restrictions are like the economy having a stroke - the longer it's deprived of "the oxygen of commerce", the worse the long term damage will be. 

Halligan has called for an acceleration of the lifting of lockdown restrictions, saying many businesses contacting him fear they won't re-open.

He's also been strongly critical of the government and the National Public Health Emergency Team continuing to recommend physical distancing of 2 metres. 

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan told cabinet Ministers he had no plans to change this, but John Halligan believes the WHO advice of 1 metre is sufficient and would allow businesses, schools and the wider health service to begin operating again.

He's cited reports that 1,800 people may die of cancer because of the inability to get a referral for screening, asking if this is a reasonable price to pay for the lockdown.

It's worth noting that two of the strongest critics of the two metre rule in government have been Halligan and Finian McGrath - Independent Alliance Ministers who didn't seek re-election and are more free to speak their minds.

But their view is not an isolated one, and as the number of new cases is falling, calls to ease more restrictions are getting louder.

New US record:

The US has now recorded more than 100,000 Covid-19 deaths.

That's nearly triple the rate of any other country, but many states are now beginning to ease their lockdown restrictions. 

The UK's recorded the second highest number of fatalities with more than 37,000, while Italy has suffered just over 33,000 deaths.

But the director-general of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Ghebreyesus, says the crisis has had some positive aspects. 

Employment:

70 percent of employees impacted by Covid-19 don't believe changes to their jobs will ever be reversed.

A new survey of 668 respondents on the Jobs.ie website also finds 66 percent are worried about their jobs or their ability to find a job in future.

Those surveyed represent 40 different industries.

The website's General Manager, Christopher Paye, says employers can help ease some of the fear and doubt for staff.:

Stark economic projections:

Just under 2 in 5 people could be unemployed by the end of 2020 if a second lockdown is needed to suppress Covid-19.

New research from the ESRI has found Ireland is on course for it's largest recession in history.

It forecasts GDP to fall between 8.6 per cent in its best-case scenario or to over 17 per cent if restrictions need to be re-introduced.

Conor O'Toole from the ESRI says the impact on the labour market will be 'stark':

Passenger locator form:

Passengers arriving from overseas will face a fine or jail if they fail to fill out a Covid-19 passenger locator form. 

From today, it's mandatory to provide details of where you will be self-isolating and your contact information. 

Anyone who fails to do so could be imprisoned for up to six months or face a fine of up to 2,500 euro. 

A further 17 people have died here from Covid-19 and 73 new cases have also been confirmed.  

One further case was confirmed in both Westmeath and Laois yesterday, bringing the midlands total to 1,401.

Chief medical officer Tony Holohan says the new form will allow them to follow up with passengers if necessary:

People who fill out the Covid-19 Passenger Locator Form are also being asked to quarantine for 14 days from today.

Head of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, says the measure will have a serious impact on the sector:

Latest local figures:

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the midlands is 1,401.

Westmeath has seen a slight jump of one case, with the county now recording 664 people with the virus.

There's been an increase of one case in Laois with 258 confirmed with coronavirus.

Offaly is the only county in the midlands not to see an increase with the confirmed cases remaining at 479.