Coronavirus: 13 Deaths, 970 New Cases Reported Today

National news updates on Tuesday 22nd December.

Latest figures:

There have been 13 deaths reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre today.

There have been a total of 2,171 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of midnight Monday 21st December, the HPSC has been notified of 970 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 81,228* confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. 
 

Of the cases notified today;

  • 470 are men /494 are women
  • 64% are under 45 years of age
  • The median age is 37 years old
  • 348 in Dublin, 60 in Limerick, 59 in Cork, 59 in Wexford, 55 in Louth and the remaining 389 cases are spread across 20 other counties. 

As of 2pm today 238 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 28 are in ICU. 23 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
 

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “The current trajectory of the disease in the community is of grave concern.  In the last seven days to midnight Monday, we have reported 4,478 cases, an increase of more than 110% over the preceding week. In the last 5 days, we have seen extraordinary growth in the incidence of the virus across the country, significantly increasing the level of risk associated with the kind of inter-generational mixing that is normally experienced over the Christmas holidays. To protect ourselves, our families and our vulnerable loved ones in particular, further economic and social restrictions will begin to be introduced from Christmas Eve. It is up to each one of us to rethink our plans for this Christmas period, especially when it comes to visiting older or more medically vulnerable family members and friends.

 

“With the authorisation of the first COVID-19 vaccine by the European Commission yesterday, our national vaccine programme can begin in the very near future and this gives us cause for hope. However, widespread vaccination of the population will take time, so we need to continue to adhere to the public health advice on hand washing, keeping 2m distance, wearing face coverings where appropriate, covering our coughs and reducing our social contacts for the duration of the Level 5 restrictions. By working together we can reduce the spread of COVID-19 and safeguard our schools and our hospitals.”

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

*Validation of data at the HPSC has resulted in the denotification of 9 confirmed cases. The figure of 81,228 confirmed cases reflects this.

Today’s cases, 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 population and new cases in last 14 days (as of midnight 21 December 2020) (incidence rate based on Census 2016 county population)

 

County

Today's cases (to midnight 21Dec2020)

14-Day incidence rate per 100,000 population (to 21Dec2020)

New Cases during last 14 days

(21Dec2020)

Ireland

970

138.2

6,583

Donegal

50

290.8

463

Louth

55

273.1

352

Wexford

59

237.8

356

Kilkenny

26

236.8

235

Monaghan

41

213.4

131

Carlow

10

200.2

114

Limerick

60

189.8

370

Laois

13

186.5

158

Cavan

6

183.8

140

Dublin

348

163.1

2,197

Kerry

27

140.1

207

Longford

<5

139.5

57

Meath

36

136.9

267

Waterford

27

127.4

148

Mayo

9

113.4

148

Kildare

54

111

247

Sligo

<5

109.9

72

Wicklow

15

75.1

107

Offaly

9

69.3

54

Cork

59

67.6

367

Tipperary

8

65.2

104

Galway

40

64.3

166

Roscommon

<5

48

31

Westmeath

5

47.3

42

Clare

<5

34.5

41

Leitrim

0

28.1

9

Prison:

No one will be able to visit a prison after Christmas Eve, due to the new restrictions. 

The Irish Prison Service says all physical visits will be suspended from midnight on December 24th. 

But video visits will continue to be available, and all prisoners will be given an extra daily phone call.

Breaking news:

The Taoiseach has announced the following new restrictions: 

From Christmas Eve until January 12th the country is returning to Level 5 with some adjustments. 

Non-essential retail can stay open but sales events can't happen. Gyms and leisure centres open.

Further measures from Christmas eve until January 12th. 

Hotels may only open for essential, non-social, non-tourist purposes. 

Schools, early learning and childcare services remain open. 

Higher, further and college education should remain online.

Non-contact training in pods of up to 15 may take place outdoors. 

No matches and events should take place, except for professional and elite sports, and horse-racing and greyhound racing behind closed tours. 

Restrictions:

Cabinet has approved new Covid-19 restrictions to take effect from Christmas Eve. 

While Christmas isn't being cancelled, activity will be severely limited once again. 

From 3pm on Christmas Eve restaurants and pubs that serve food will have to close. 

Hairdressers, barbers, beauticians, cinemas and galleries will also have to shut on the 24th. 

From midnight on the 26th intercounty travel will be restricted, but with exemptions for getting home after the Christmas break.

Hotels are also expected to be closed after St Stephen's Day for non-essential stays. 

From the 27th of December people will only be allowed to have visitors from one other household in their home. 

Christmas Day mass is likely to be the last one of the year as worship will move online.

The travel ban from the UK has also been extended until the end of the year. 

Cabinet was warned the number of new cases today will be over 900 - the highest number since Halloween.

The new measures will be reviewed on January 12th. 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin is expected to formally make the announcement in the next hour. 

Speaking ahead of this morning's cabinet meeting, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said NPHET is deeply concerned about the current state of the virus:

Travel:

Diplomats are working to arrange repatriation flights for Irish residents in Britain. 

But the Department of Foreign Affairs helpline for those left stuck has been swamped with calls. 

The only way to get on a repatriation flight out of Britain is by booking through the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Its hotline for Irish residents there took over five hundred calls yesterday. 

And still there are people who haven't been able to get through this afternoon. 

Any Irish residents on short trips there are entitled to return, as are any international travellers who landed there to meet a connecting flight to Ireland and those visiting for medical treatment. 

But Irish people who live in the UK are barred from entering. 

Augustina flew to London because of a family emergency -- and now finds herself stuck. 

AUGUSTINA

Ryanair will operate one of the "rescue flights" out of London's Stansted Airport at five o'clock today getting into Dublin about 6pm. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs says it's a "rapidly evolving and very complicated situation" and has asked people to be patient. 

It says it's exploring other flight options -- and may also bring people back by sea. 

WHO:

The World Health Organisation says it's important that people 'aren't scared too much' by research results about the genetic changes to Covid-19. 

It says it's time to double down on efforts to suppress the virus before it changes further. 

However, executive director of the WHO, Michael Ryan, says mutations are normal and 'to be expected':


Antarctica:

Coronavirus has now reached every continent on Earth - with Antarctica the last to record infections.

36 people have tested positive for Covid-19 at a Chilean army base there.

Until now, the world's most isolated continent had managed to avoid the pandemic.

Experts say the risks of passing the disease onto Antarctic wildlife aren't known.

Travel:

There was a 41 per cent decrease in overseas travel from Ireland last month. 

96,800 people left the country in November, down from 163,300 in October. 

The number of people who arrived in this country dropped by 35 per cent last month. 

Just under 104,000 people came to the Republic by flight or ferry in November.

Policing:

The Policing Authority says it wouldn't be a surprise if more closure orders are issued for pubs and restaurants.

According to its annual review, industry bodies have questioned if the force is too reluctant to enforce regulations.

Since June, 50 thousand inspections of pubs and restaurants have been carried out by Gardai - with 326 incidents where officers used the powers available to them.

Over the weekend, the first closure order was issued to a pub in the north-west for repeated breaches of Covid laws.

Chair of the Policing Authority, Bob Collins, says officers have gotten the balance right - but thinks more closures are possible.

The report shows there have been almost 900 incidents where Gardai have used enforcement powers under Covid regulations between April and December.

Over a third of them have been in the North and West of the country - with the highest numbers in the Galway and Cavan/Monaghan divisions.

Northern Ireland:

Stormont voted against banning travel between Britain and Northern Ireland last night.

Ministers there have advised against non-essential travel with Britain and the Republic.

Health Minister, Robin Swann, has recommended advice against non-essential travel into and out of Northern Ireland. 

He's also advised that anyone arriving into the region self-isolate for 10 days. 

However, an outright travel ban with Britain has been ruled out after Stormont voted against the proposals.

It means, despite the Republic's restrictions on flights with Britain - people there could fly through Belfast and enter the Republic freely.

It's all in response to the new variant of Covid-19 which is circulating around the UK.

Robin Swann said it's believed the strain is in Northern Ireland and almost inevitably in the Republic.

Restrictions:

Restaurants and gastropubs will be told to close on Christmas Eve under plans going to cabinet this morning.

The ban on flights from the UK is also being extended until the end of the year. 

It comes as Ministers have been warned Level 5 restrictions will be needed after Christmas. 

Last night the Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tony Holohan made a presentation to the coalition party leaders last night setting out a stark picture of rising case numbers as well as fears over the new strain of the virus emerging from the UK. 

He told them Level Five restrictions will be needed at some point after Christmas. 

Following the meeting a number of recommendations are going to cabinet today. 

From mid-afternoon on Christmas Eve restaurants, gastropubs, hairdressers, barbers, beauticians, cinemas and galleries will have to close. 

Non-essential retail will be allowed to remain open. 

Sources said there will be supports for those businesses that will have to close, but it's unclear whether these will be new schemes. 

The ban on intercounty travel will return from December 27th - however, there will be exemptions for returning to work. 

So if someone left Dublin to go home for Christmas, they would be allowed to return to Dublin after the 27th when they are returning to work. 

The travel ban on flights from the UK will be extended until at least December 31st, and kept under review.

The details on when restrictions on household visits will tighten will be debated at cabinet this morning. 

Vaccine:

The European Commission has given its final approval to the rollout of the Pfizer Bio-N-Tech vaccine.

The authorisation makes the jab legally binding across all member states, and follows the conditional approval by the European Medicines Agency yesterday.

Its rollout here is expected in the 'coming days', with the first 10,000 doses due to arrive before the end of the year.

Dr Lorraine Nolan, chief executive of the Health Products Regulatory Authority, says the EMA's approval is reassuring:

Shoppers:

Irish shoppers are being reassured there is no fear of supplies running out before Christmas. 

The UK is reporting concerns over fresh food deliveries after France closed it's border to lorries arriving from Dover, for 48 hours. 

However Arnold Dillon  - Director of Retail Ireland says retailers here are fully stocked and there's no reason to buy any more than usual. 

Hauliers:

Many Irish hauliers are attempting to make their way back to the country in time for Christmas.

It follows France's decision to close its border with the UK due to concerns about a new variant of Covid-19.

Pat Brennan, owner of Pat Brennan International in Limerick, says a number of his lorry drivers are among them:

Incidence Rate:

The 14 day incidence of the virus is now rising faster than at any point since March.

It's now increased to 122 per 100 thousand after 727 new cases were confirmed last night.

While the reproduction rate could be as high as 1.6.

Professor Philip Nolan, chair of NPHET's modelling advisory group, says cases are increasing rapidly across the country:

More from Midlands News

Download Our App