New Coronavirus cases drop for second consecutive day

There have been 102 new cases of Coronavirus confirmed in Ireland today. The total is now 785 nationwide. To date, three people have lost their lives.

There are still five or less cases in County Cavan; while Monaghan remains the only county in Ireland with no confirmed case to date.

Today’s figure is down slightly on yesterday’s increase of 126 and Thursday’s figure of 191 new cases, which was the highest daily increase in Ireland so far.

The figures come as the government has confirmed that over 10,000 people have been tested for COVID-19 in Ireland.

The government has received 30,000 new testing kits and new testing stations will be up and running within days including one, it’s understood, at Ballyhaise in Co Cavan.

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.

Today’s data from The Health Protection Surveillance Centre, as of midnight, Thursday 19 March (584 cases), reveals;

·         Of the 584 cases notified, 55% are male and 44% are female, with 29 clusters involving 157 cases.

·         The median age of confirmed cases is 44 years

·         30% of cases have been hospitalised

·         13 cases admitted to ICU - representing 2% of all cases hospitalised

·         147 cases - 25% of cases are associated with healthcare workers

·         Dublin has the highest number of cases at 55%, followed by Cork 15%

 

Of those for whom transmission status is known, community transmission accounts for 42%, close contact accounts for 23%, travel abroad accounts for 35%.

The Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 was signed into law by the President of Ireland last Friday, March 20. This Act empowers the Minister for Health to prohibit and restrict the holding of certain events, and to close certain premises, for example public houses.

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “The Department is aware that pubs in some areas of the country are continuing to open, in contravention of existing public health advice.

 "If any such premises become known to us, the Minister will be advised to use his regulatory powers to enforce the temporary closure of premises in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19. 

“We are also asking An Garda Siochana to assist in encouraging the public to abide by the public health advice on social distancing by encouraging any groups congregating in public to disperse.”

Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “We must continue in our efforts to limit the spread of Covid-19 together, as a society, to protect our healthcare workers and our most vulnerable.”