Covid-19 Tuesday: 1 death, 215 new cases

THE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 1 additional death related to Covid-19.

There has been a total of 2,097* Covid-19-related deaths in Ireland.

As of midnight Monday 7th December, the HPSC has been notified of 215 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There is now a total of 74,682* confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.

Of the cases notified today:

• 95 are men / 119 are women
• 60% are under 45 years of age
• The median age is 37 years old
• 74 in Dublin, 22 in Donegal, 15 in Kilkenny, 14 in Louth, 11 in Limerick and the remaining 79 cases are spread across 18 other counties.

As of 2pm today 210 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 31 are in ICU. There were 8 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer, Department of Health, said: ‘Today the Government approved NPHET’s advice on prioritisation of Covid-19 vaccines. This is an important step in the development of the vaccine strategy, being finalised by the High Level taskforce for Covid-19 vaccination.

‘While each of us awaits our opportunity to be vaccinated, it is important that we continue to protect each other in the meantime, particularly over Christmas and in the months ahead.

‘Continue to follow public health advice; avoid crowded places, physically distance, wear face coverings, wash hands regularly and practice cough/sneeze etiquette.’

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

*Validation of data at the HPSC has resulted in the denotification of 3 deaths. The figure of 2,097 reflects this.

*Validation of data at the HPSC has resulted in the denotification of 1 confirmed case. The figure of 74,682 confirmed cases reflects this.

Today’s cases, 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 population and new cases in last 14 days (as of midnight 07 December 2020) (incidence rate based on Census 2016 county population)

• To watch or listen to the Southern Star Coronavirus Podcast, please search ‘Coronavirus Podcast’ at the top right of this page or see the Southern Star on YouTube. This week’s podcast is an interview with Bandon native and Sunday Times political correspondent and columnist Justine McCarthy. Justine, a highly respected campaigning journalist, talks about growing up in West Cork, starting her  journalism career in The Southern Star and some of the incredible stories she has covered in her wide-ranging and very impressive career. And this week's music – from Clare singer Susan O’Neill and singer-songwriter Mick Flannery – is their duet Baby Talk,  which won ‘Best Original Folk Track of The Year’ at the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards last week.

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