Covid-19 Monday: no new deaths, 46 new cases

THERE have been no new deaths reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre today.

There has now been a total of 1,763 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of midnight Sunday 2^nd August, the HPSC has been notified of 46 confirmed cases. There is now a total of 26,208 confirmed cases in Ireland.

Of the cases notified today:

• 27 are men / 19 are women
• 85% are under 45 years of age
• 32 are associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case
• 5 cases have been identified as community transmission
• 15 cases are located in Kildare, 8 in Laois, 7 in Clare, 5 in Offaly and the remaining 11 are spread across nine other counties.

The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread.

Dr Ronan Glynn, acting chief medical officer, Department of Health, said: ‘The vast majority of young people in Ireland have followed public health advice and have made very significant sacrifices to protect themselves and others. People of all ages will occasionally slip up as they learn to live safely with this virus. We should not seek to attribute blame, but rather continue to encourage one another to build on and sustain the great efforts that we have all made to date.

‘We continue to urge everyone to observe the safe behaviours that we recommend such as physical distancing, washing hands regularly, wearing a face covering where appropriate, avoiding crowds and doing all we can to protect each other.

‘NPHET continues to monitor the evolving situation very closely and will meet tomorrow.’

The COVID-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of Covid-19 in the community.

NPHET says everyone should be aware of the risk factors for getting Covid-19:

Distance– the risk increases as the distance between you and others gets smaller. Keep 2m apart where possible

Activity– How you spend time with people and what you do with them can increase your risk. Follow the government’s Stay Safe Guidelines when spending time with others

Time– The more time you spend in close contact with other people can increase your risk. Keep track of who you spend time with and how

Environment– Being outdoors is safer than being indoors. Where possible, meet with others outdoors. If this is not possible, keep windows and doors open when meeting others inside

Symptoms– Know the symptoms. If you have them, self-isolate and contact your GP immediately

Public Health Advice for all citizens available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/cf9b0d-new-public-health-measures-effective-now-to-prevent-further-spread-o/

Know the symptoms:

a fever (high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above)

a cough- this can be any kind of cough, not just dry

shortness of breathor breathing difficulties

loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

flu-like symptoms.

To watch or listen to the Southern Star Coronavirus Podcast, please search Coronavirus Podcast at the top of this page or see the Southern Star on YouTube. This week’s podcast includes a review of this week’s newspaper, music from Ardfield singer Alan Tobin, and an interview with Seven Oceans swimmer Steve Redmond, who swam to the Fastnet Rock and back recently.

You can subscribe to the Southern Star Coronavirus podcast which is available on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts.