Coronavirus: One Further Death Confirmed Today

National news updates on Tuesday 8th December.

Latest figures:

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 1 additional death related to COVID-19.
 

There has been a total of 2,097* COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.
 

As of midnight Monday 7th December, the HPSC has been notified of 215 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 74,682* confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. 
 

Of the cases notified today;

• 95 are men / 119 are women
• 60% are under 45 years of age
• The median age is 37 years old
• 74 in Dublin, 22 in Donegal, 15 in Kilkenny, 14 in Louth, 11 in Limerick and the remaining 79 cases are spread across 18 other counties. 

As of 2pm today 210 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 31 are in ICU. 8 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “Today the Government approved NPHET’s advice on prioritisation of COVID-19 vaccines. This is an important step in the development of the vaccine strategy, being finalised by the High Level taskforce for COVID-19 vaccination.

“While each of us awaits our opportunity to be vaccinated, it is important that we continue to protect each other in the meantime, particularly over Christmas and in the months ahead.  

“Continue to follow public health advice; avoid crowded places, physically distance, wear face coverings, wash hands regularly and practice cough/sneeze etiquette.”

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 3 deaths. The figure of 2,097 reflects this.

*Validation of data at the HPSC has resulted in the denotification of 1 confirmed case. The figure of 74,682 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 07 December 2020) (incidence rate based on Census 2016 county population)

Debut Vaccination:

A 90 year old Irish granny has become the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer Bio-N-tech Covid-19 vaccine.

Margaret Keenan, who's from Enniskillen, had the injection at University Hospital Coventry at around 6.30 this morning.

Afterwards she said she felt 'good' - and has this message for anyone with doubts about whether to have the jab:

Northern Ireland:

The first Covid-19 vaccine on the island of Ireland will be rolled out in the north today.

Vaccinators will be the first to get the Pfizer-BioNTech jab, while residents in care home will start to get it over the coming days.

12,500 people there are to get the shot as part of this first batch, which involves getting two doses, 21 days apart.

Meanwhile nursing homes, healthcare workers and over 75s will be the first to get it here when it becomes available, under plans going to cabinet today.

Immunology Professor at Trinity College Dublin, Kingston Mills, says the roll out in the north is positive:

CMO:

The Chief Medical Officer says it's unlikely we'll avoid a significant surge of Covid-19 in early January. 

Public health officials don't believe daily case numbers will fall any further this side of Christmas. 

The 7 day incidence rate increased by 13 per cent over the course of the last week, with 242 new cases confirmed yesterday evening. 

Dr Tony Holohan says the level of socialisation over Christmas will likely lead to a challenging level of disease in the New Year:

Centre:

A new Covid-19 testing centre opens at Knock Airport in Co Mayo today.

The walk-through centre will be operated by RocDoc, which currently runs drive-thru facilities at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports.

It'll be available to air passengers, members of the public and local businesses.

Two tests are available - a PCR or LAMP - the latter is not recognised officially by the EU for use in travel.

Chief Executive, David Rock he explains the length of time it will take to get results:

Vaccine:

Nursing homes, healthcare workers and over 75s will get the first access to COVID vaccines under plans going to cabinet today.

The first vaccinations on the island of Ireland will also be administered in Northern Ireland later.

Northern Ireland will roll out COVID vaccines from today but people in the Republic will likely be waiting until January. 

Cabinet Ministers will approve recommendations from NPHET about who will get first access to whatever vaccines are approved for use in the EU.

Nursing home residents will be top of the list.

They'll be followed by frontline healthcare workers who are in contact with patients.

Third in line will be those over 70 and this will be managed on a tiered basis based on age.

Those over 85 will get the vaccine first, followed by the 80-84, 75-79 and 70-74 age groups. 

The precise detail of how that'll be managed will be given by the vaccination roll-out taskforce which is due to report on Friday. 

A significant communications strategy is also being prepared by the government to provide a fact and evidence based approach to answering questions and concerns from the public.

While the European Medicines Agency has until December 29th to decide whether to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for use here, a government spokesman has said the Irish plan will be comprehensive ensure to ensure roll out very quickly once that happens.