Covid-19 Friday: 7 deaths, 28 new cases

AS the government announces plans to ease travel restrictions from Monday,  the Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that a total of seven  people with Covid-19 have died.

There have now been a total 1,670* Covid-19-related deaths in Ireland.

As of midnight Thursday 4 June the HPSC has been notified of 28 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There is now a total of 25,163** confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.

The HSE is 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 HPSC, as of midnight, Wednesday 3 June (25,135 cases), reveals:

·        57% are female and 43% are male
·        the median age of confirmed cases is 48 years
·        3,312 cases (13%) have been hospitalised
·        Of those hospitalised, 410 cases have been admitted to ICU
·        8,046 cases are associated with healthcare workers
·        Dublin has the highest number of cases at 12,118 (48% of all cases) followed by Cork with 1,527 cases (6%) and then Kildare with 1,419 cases (6%)
·        Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 39%, close contact accounts for 59%, travel abroad accounts for 2%

Today, Government confirmed Ireland’s progression into Phase Two of Ireland’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business will proceed on Monday.

Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer, Department of Health, said: ‘As we move to Phase Two, the Government has introduced a range of new measures in line with the advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team. It is our individual behaviours and personal choices that will ultimately influence what course this disease takes over the coming weeks and months.’

Dr Ronan Glynn, deputy chief medical officer, Department of Health said: ‘The reopening of  playgrounds in public locations and outdoor amenities including zoos, animal parks and summer camps, as well as the summer education programme for children with special educational needs, are some of the measures that is hoped will ease the severity of this pandemic on children and their families.’

Dr. Colm Henry, chief clinical officer, HSE, said: ‘Phase Two provides vulnerable groups scope for home visits of up to six people for a short period of time. However, it is vitally important that all visits to homes of vulnerable people be compliant with hand hygiene practices, respiratory etiquette and physical distancing of 2 metres. It is hoped as we move through phases, that life becomes easier for severely impacted groups but that their safety is maintained at all times.’

The government also announced that rather than the specified 20km limit which was expected to be introduced on Monday, the public can now travel anywhere within their own county of residence, during Phase Two, which begins on Monday.

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

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*Validation of data at the HPSC has resulted in the denotification of 1 death. The figure of 1,670 deaths reflects this.

**Validation of data at the HPSC has resulted in the denotification of 7 confirmed cases. The figure of 25,163 confirmed cases reflects this.