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Covid-19: 31 more deaths and 376 new cases on Wednesday

April 29th, 2020 8:58 PM

By Con Downing

Nine deaths of patients suffering from the Covid-19 virus were confirmed at Clonakilty Community Hospital.

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There have been 31 further deaths from Covid-19 reported tonight by the Department of Health, which brings the total to date to 1,190.

A further 376 new cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed, bringing the overall number to 20,253.

Earlier today, it was revealed that there had been nine deaths from Covid-19 among residents of Clonakilty Community Hospital in the past three weeks. Local TD Christopher O'Sullivan said: 'I’m saddened and want to express my deepest sympathy to their loved ones. Nine members of our close-knit, loving community is nine too many.

'There are only a couple of major outbreaks in the Cork region, and Clonakilty Community Hospital is unfortunately one of them. It remains the only outbreak in the West Cork region.'

Today’s data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Monday 27th April (19,723 cases), reveals:

·        58% are female and 42% are male

·        the median age of confirmed cases is 49 years

·        2,669 cases (13%) have been hospitalised

·        Of those hospitalised, 355 cases have been admitted to ICU

·        5,568 cases are associated with healthcare workers

·        Dublin has the highest number of cases at 9,751 (49% of all cases) followed by Kildare with 1,162 cases (6%) and then Cork with 1,136 cases (6%)

·        Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 63%, close contact accounts for 34%, travel abroad accounts for 3%

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “We estimate that as of Saturday 25th April 12,222 COVID-19 cases (64%) in the community have recovered. 1,164 cases (6%) have been discharged from hospital which gives us a total recovery rate of 70%.”
Dr Kathleen MacLellan, Assistant Secretary Department of Health and Chair of NPHET Vulnerable People Subgroup, said: “Ireland remains one of the few countries globally who has collected and officially reported data from long term residential care settings from the start of the pandemic. “From the end of March we have seen an increase in deaths in this sector that can be attributed to COVID-19.

“As we continue to collect and report mortality data coming from this sector we will have a greater understanding of the behaviour of the disease in this setting and it will help us to inform public health actions and clinical care.”

Dr. Siobhán Ní Bhriain, HSE National Lead for Integrated Care, said; “We have put significant effort into developing clinical guidance for the residential care sector. This has driven the operational response and has been supported by education for all staff in this sector.  

“This work is crucial in making sure our most vulnerable people get the best possible care in what is a very challenging time.”

The Department of Health’s COVID-19 Information Dashboard (click here) provides the latest case information.

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