Covid-19 Friday: 2,098 new cases

THE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 2,098* confirmed cases of Covid-19.

As of 8am today, 251 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 52 are in ICU.

Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer, Department of Health, said: ‘For the second time in a week, we are reporting over 2,000 cases. We haven’t seen this number of cases since late January 2021. This is a concerning indication of the level of Covid-19 circulating in our communities.

‘Covid-19 vaccines are very effective against severe illness from Covid-19 and are protecting people from needing care in hospital and ICU. While it is possible for fully vaccinated individuals to become infected and pass the virus on to others, vaccines also remain effective in significantly reducing this risk. That is why it is vital for as many people as possible to come forward for vaccination against this disease.

‘We must all remain vigilant to the risk of contracting Covid-19. To protect everyone and to safeguard the progress we have made, please follow the public health advice to limit transmission of Covid-19.

‘If you display symptoms of Covid-19 like cough, fever, headache, sore throat and blocked or runny nose – isolate and get a test immediately. Continue to socialise safely by risk assessing, meeting outdoors where possible. Only meet up with small numbers of people and avoid crowds. Remember, it is okay to leave if you do not feel safe.’

Daily case numbers may change due to future data validation.