1,533 people have now died from Coronavirus in Ireland – an increase of 15 from yesterday.
It is important to note that not all of these people passed away today and that this is the number that were reported to the Department of Health today.
These people will have passed away in recent days and not just today.
While there has been a total of 92 new cases of Coronavirus have been diagnosed in Ireland today.
This is an increase on the 23,956 cases from yesterday and takes the overall total to 24,048.
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer in the Dept of Health commented: “Today is the first time we have seen the number of confirmed cases fall below 100 since mid-March.
“While the past nine weeks have been particularly difficult for those cocooning, and for parents with young children, today’s numbers give reassurance that we have all learned and adopted new behaviours of handwashing, respiratory etiquette and social distance that will serve us well as we work together to re-open retail, business and society.”
Today’s data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Thursday 14 May (23,879 cases), reveals:
· 57% are female and 43% are male
· the median age of confirmed cases is 48 years
· 3,092 cases (13%) have been hospitalised
· Of those hospitalised, 389 cases have been admitted to ICU
· 7,530 cases are associated with healthcare workers
· Dublin has the highest number of cases at 11,657 (49% of all cases) followed by Kildare with 1,357 cases (6%) and then Cork with 1,346 cases (6%)
· Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 60%, close contact accounts for 37%, travel abroad accounts for 3%
Northern Ireland, the UK and globally
There have been 4 further Covid-19 related deaths in Northern Ireland, bringing official total to 473.
There have been 40 new cases of Coronavirus, bringing the Northern Ireland total to 4,337.
The UK Coronavirus death toll increased by 468 in past 24 hours, taking total recorded fatalities to 34,466. They now have more deaths than Italy and the second highest in the world behind the USA who have 88,628.
There are now a total 4,671,000 cases of Coronavirus globally. There have been more than 310,000 deaths while 1,780,000 have recovered.
How to wear and make face coverings
The Department of Health has released a video explaining how to make a face covering:
Here is a guide to making a face covering.
It is advised to wear one where social distancing is not possible.
Face coverings are not a replacement for washing your hands well and often with soap and water.
Keep 2m from others when you are outside your home.#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/Rv1eGBurLa
— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) May 15, 2020
And they have also released a video explaining how to safely wear.
It is advised to wear a face covering in situations where social distancing is not possible such as shops or public transport.
They are not a replacement for washing hands, or keeping the 2m distance from others when outdoors. #COVID19 #WashYourHands pic.twitter.com/RfLrQxKEgL
— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) May 15, 2020
Government establishes ‘Return to Sport Expert Group’
A ‘Return to Sport Expert Group’ has been established by the government to provide guidance to Ireland’s sporting bodies to prepare for the phased return to sporting activity in line with the Government Roadmap for Reopening Business and Society.
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross and the Minister of State with responsibility for Sport, Brendan Griffin, will chair the Expert Group.
They will work alongside medical experts from the Sport Ireland Institute and the sports sector, as well as officials from both the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and Sport Ireland. The Group also contains a specific representation for disability sport.
Important information
Symptoms of Covid-19 include:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Fever
- Breathing difficulties.
Further resources:
- The HSE: Official advice on the coronavirus in Ireland. This is being updated based on the number of confirmed cases and how the virus spreads in Ireland.
- The Department of Foreign Affairs: Official advice on where to avoid travelling to. Also a resource for those who are abroad.
- The World Health Organization (WHO): The UN agency on global public health publishes statements and daily situation reports based on the latest data.
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC): The EU agency on the number of cases, deaths and how it’s spreading in Europe.
- The Johns Hopkins University map: A heat map of the confirmed cases across the world.
A helpline for older people who are concerned about the coronavirus has been launched by Alone. The number is 0818 222 024, and it’s open Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm.
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