Coronavirus: 21 Patients Have Died

Latest news updates for 5th April 2020.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that 21 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ireland have died.

· 17 deaths located in the east, 2 in the south, 2 in the west of the country

· The patients included 9 females and 12 males

· 12 patients were reported as having underlying health conditions

· Median age of today’s reported deaths is 81

There have now been 158 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

The median age of deaths in Ireland is 81.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been informed of 390 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland, as at 1pm, Sunday 5th April.

There are now 4,994 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland -  180 of those are in the midlands region.

Westmeath has increased by just two to 94.

Offaly had one new confirmed case bringing the total number to 64.

Laois has the lowest in the region with 22 - an increase of one from yesterday. 

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

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “This past week has proven that the nation is working hard, together, by staying at home to flatten the curve.

“If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 you need to self-isolate and phone your GP. I ask that everyone inform themselves on what to do in the instance they develop symptoms, as well as how to maintain their health and wellbeing. Support and guidance is available on gov.ie/health and HSE.”

Today’s data from HPSC, as of midnight, Friday 3rd April 2020 (4,443 cases), reveals:

· 47% are male and 53% are female, with 236 clusters involving 903 cases

· Median age of confirmed cases is 48 years

· 1,203 cases (27%) have been hospitalised

· Of those hospitalised, 165 cases have been admitted to ICU

· 1,163 cases (26%) are associated with healthcare workers

· Dublin has the highest number of cases at 2,490 (56% of all cases) followed by Cork with 343 cases (8%)

· Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 63%, close contact accounts for 24%, travel abroad accounts for 13%

Taoiseach:

The Taoiseach has rejoined the medical register.

Leo Varadkar had left the list of doctors in the country in 2013.

Last month the HSE had called out for healthcare workers who had left the register to return to the workforce to help with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hospital:

794 people are currently in hospital being treated for Covid-19.

142 of those are being treated in intensive care units.

The HSE says €4 million has been spent on personal protective equipment that isn't suitable for Irish healthcare settings.

The equipment, made up mostly of masks, represents 20 percent of the PPE that has so far arrived in Ireland.

After inspection, 65 percent of the overall delivery was found to meet standards while a further 15 percent can be used, but isn't of the quality expected.

HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid says further discussions will take place with the supplier to ensure no more unsuitable PPE is delivered.

Spain:

The number of coronavirus-related deaths in Spain has fallen for the third day in a row.

More than 670 people died there since yesterday, but that's down from 809 the day before.

The total number of deaths has passed 12-thousand 400.

Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, wants to extend its lockdown until the end of the month but feels they are'starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Testing:

The HSE says 4,500 people will be tested every day from next week as part of efforts to stop the spread of Covid 19.

That's up from the average this week of 1,500.

Some testing centres haven't been operating at full capacity this week but Chief Operations Officer Anne O'Connor says there'll be more testing from now on.
 

ICU:

There's a warning intensive care units can only guarantee space if the rate of Covid 19 infection continues to fall.

158 people are now being treated in ICUs across the country, with units in Dublin said to be under the most pressure.

There are now over 4,600 people with coronavirus in the Republic and 137 people have died.

Dr.Catherine Motherway, President of the Intensive Care Society, says there's no room for complacency:

Alone:

There's been a huge spike in calls to ALONE during the coronavirus crisis.

The organisation has received 1-thousand calls a day this week since the Government's cocooning steps were brought in for older people.

The charity is urging those who need advice to call its support line on 0818 222 024 from 8am-8pm, seven days a week.

ALONE CEO, Sean Moynihan says their volunteers can help older people right across the country:

Nursing homes:

Nursing Homes Ireland say the Government didn't prioritise the sector and were "late to the table".

The group has however welcomed the announcement yesterday of financial support to the care homes and the plan for staff to be checked for Covid-19 symptoms.

40 clusters have been identified in the country - mainly in the east of the country.

CEO of the association, Tadhg Daly, says says it's good to now get support from the state:

Australia:

Australian health officials are cautiously optimistic about slowing the spread of coronavirus but say social distancing will remain for months.

Currently there are 5,635 confirmed cases in the country and the death toll is 34.

The daily infection rate has fallen below 5 percent, a fifth of the rate in mid-March.

Gardaí:

Gardai say it's vital people keep following the restrictions in place aimed at stopping the spread of Covid 19.

Mild weather is expected today, but the force is urging everyone to stay at home and continue to practice social distancing.

Deputy Commissioner, John Twomey, has thanked people for complying with the guidelines so far and says it's important that continues:

Social Democrats:

The Social Democrats Co-Leader is calling on the government to bring Irish experts together to produce Personal Protective Equipment.

Deputy Roisin Shortall believes Ireland has the facilities to make the equipment to protect frontline healthcare workers.

She says pharmaceutical companies could also make reagent, which is used to test for the coronavirus and is in short supply:

UK:

The UK Health Secretary says further restrictions may be introduced to curb people's movement if current rules continue to be broken.

People are allowed leave their homes for exercise in the UK but pictures on social media yesterday showed many sunbathing in public parks.

Matt Hancock said he can't rule out more stringent restrictions if that type of behaviour continues.

Face masks:

The HSE says it's not recommending people to wear face masks to prevent the spread of Covid 19.

Countries like the US have told people to cover their faces as the number of cases rises.

But Dr Breda Smyth from the HSE says that's not the advice here:

SInn Fein:

Sinn Féin says the current Covid-19 pandemic can't erase what happened two months ago in the General Election.

The party claims it's being left out of Government formation talks by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

Leo Varadkar and Micheál Martin's parties have said they are working on a programme for government over the past couple of weeks.

TD David Cullinane says people voted for change but they won't get it:

Childcare:

Labour TD Sean Sherlock is calling on the Government to sort out childcare problems for essential healthcare workers.

He believes many of them are at 'breaking point' as they try to arrange suitable childcare for their children, with creches and schools closed.

Deputy Sherlock is calling on the state to open emergency childcare facilities for frontline staff.

Personal protection equipment:

Social Democrats Co-Leader Roisin Shortall's calling on the Taoiseach to set up a Forum to make PPE equipment in Ireland.

It would bring manufacturers, innovators, scientists, academics and businesses together to provide these products for frontline healthcare staff.

Deputy Shortall says we have companies here who could produce the items needed.

India:

A couple in India have named their twins born in the global coronavirus pandemic - Corona and Covid.

The siblings - a girl and a boy - were born on the 27th of March.

Their parents said they faced 'several difficulties' before the birth because of the lockdown in India - so they wanted to make the day memorable.

Local figures: 

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that 17 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ireland have died.

There have now been 137 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland with the median age of deaths in Ireland is 81.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been informed of 331 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland, as of 1pm, Saturday 4th April.

There are now 4,604 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland - 176 are in the midlands region.

Westmeath has increased from 86 to 92.

Offaly had another 16 patients diagnosed bringing its total to 63.

Meanwhile, Laois had its largest daily jump of 5 cases. There are now 21 with the illness in the county. 

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

 

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