Coronavirus: Five More Deaths Confirmed

Latest news updates for Saturday 30th October 2020

Latest figures:

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 5 additional deaths related to COVID-19.

There has been a total of 1,913 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of midnight Friday 30th October the HPSC has been notified of 416 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 61,456* confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

Of the cases notified today;

186 are men / 230 are women

64% are under 45 years of age

The median age is 34 years old

87 in Dublin, 62 in Cork, 41 in Mayo, 37 in Galway, 7 in Westmeath, 5 in Laois and Offaly has less than 5 new cases. 

As of 2pm today 320 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 41 are in ICU. 19 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health said; “We are making progress in suppressing the current rise of COVID-19. Ireland is currently one of only four countries in the EU with a reduction in its 7-day incidence. Nationally, our reproductive number has reduced to about 1.0.

“We are working collectively to achieve suppression, but it is too early to ease our efforts. The incidence is decreasing in young adults but it continues to rise in those aged over 75. We have more to do but we are on the right track.”

Ireland:

The Chief Medical Officer has has that Ireland is the best country in Europe in the most recent 7-day Covid 19 rates.

Tony Holohan tweeted this afternoon to say that we are making progress and especially acknowledged the efforts of young people to slow the spread of the virus.

However he said it is still too soon to ease restrictions as rates still rising in the over 65s age group and have not dropped in Dublin.

322 people with Covid-19 are in hospitals around the country today, down from 327 yesterday.
 

Northern Ireland:

The Northern Ireland Department of Health has confirmed 649 new cases of Coronavirus.

11 more people have died there, and the death toll now stands at 708.

There are currently 346 Covid patients in the North's hospitals, and 112 in ICU.

Trial:

Scientists behind a UK trial of an antibody treatment for coronavirus says it'll "continue as planned", after the US study found a potential safety problem.

The drugs cocktail - which was used to treat President Trump for Covid-19 - is being tested globally, including in British hospitals.

But Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in America has paused taking on severely ill people because of an "unfavourable" balance of risks and benefits.

Incidence rate:

There have been some positive indicators that the spread of the virus is beginning to slow down.

The r-number is now close to 1, possibly below that figure.

Chair of the NPHET's Modelling Group, Professor Philip Nolan, says the number of average contacts per confirmed case has dropped in recent weeks as well:

Belgium:

Belgium has announced a return to a national lockdown in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus.

The country's death rate is second only to the Czech Republic in the EU- the country is roughly two and a half times the size of Ireland and more than 11,300 people have died of the virus- 140 of them yesterday.

Increasing restrictions are being brought in across Europe- riot police were deployed in Barcelona last night, after protests began against new coronavirus lockdown measures.

France is now in a new national lockdwon while Germany is due to introduce new measures on Monday.
 

Hospitals:

The HSE says it is concerned with a drop in the number of people turning up to emergency departments compared to this time last year.

It could be down to the rise in COVID-19 cases around the country.

However it's urging people that measures are in place to keep people safe.

322 people with Covid-19 are in hospitals around the country this morning, down from 327 yesterday morning,

There were 32 admissions in the last 24 hours, while 26 people were discharged.

As of 8pm yesterday evening, there were 42 Covid-19 patients in intensive care.

Chief Clinical Officer with the HSE, Dr Colm Henry, is urging people who need emergency care to present themselves to hospital:

Restrictions:

There is no 'magic number' which NPHET will use to anticipate the potential lifting of restrictions.

The Chief Medical Officer says he's wary of 'anticipatory behaviour' as the spread of the virus starts to slow.

772 new cases of the virus were confirmed yesterday, with 6 additional deaths.

Dr Tony Holohan says they will continue to monitor the situation, but is urging the public to continue following public health guidelines:

Schools:

The ASTI wants more progress made in tackling covid 19 to ensure the safety of students and teachers in schools.

Its Standing Committee met yesterday after members voted to take industrial action, unless the Government tackles coronavirus issues.

These include faster turnaround times for testing and tracing and the redefinition of close contacts.

ASTI General Secretary, Kieran Christy says despite their concerns they want to keep schools open:

Taoiseach Michéal Martin said it's in everyone's interest to keep schools open:

Local figures:

There are 772 more cases of Covid-19 in the Republic, while six people have died with the virus. 

228 cases are in Dublin, with 120 in Cork and 50 in Meath, while all counties in the country have recorded cases. 

But the chief medical officer, Tony Holohan, says the overall situation has improved, but it's still early days. 

The death toll now stands at 1,908, and there have been 61,059 cases since the pandemic began. 

Westmeath still has the third highest incidence rate in the country at 413. It's between Cavan and Meath. 

24 new cases were confirmed in the county yesterday, bringing the total over 14 days to 367.

Offaly had 14 more people diagnosed with the virus, its rate is 236, meanwhile Laois' total increased by 11. 

The incidence rate in the O Moore county is on 233.