There have been 13 further Coronavirus-related deaths in Ireland and 970 new cases.
13 of the new cases are in Laois, meaning the county’s 14-day incidence rate is now 186.5.
The national average is 138.2 and the Laois figure is now eighth highest in the country, behind only Donegal, Louth, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Cavan and Limerick.
That Laois figure was 94.5 seven days ago and 55.5 14 days ago.
Of the cases notified today:
Of the cases notified today;
- 470 are men /494 are women
- 64% are under 45 years of age
- The median age is 37 years old
- 348 in Dublin, 60 in Limerick, 59 in Cork, 59 in Wexford, 55 in Louth and the remaining 389 cases are spread across 20 other counties.
As of 2pm today 238 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 28 are in ICU. 23 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “The current trajectory of the disease in the community is of grave concern. In the last seven days to midnight Monday, we have reported 4,478 cases, an increase of more than 110% over the preceding week.
“In the last 5 days, we have seen extraordinary growth in the incidence of the virus across the country, significantly increasing the level of risk associated with the kind of inter-generational mixing that is normally experienced over the Christmas holidays.
“To protect ourselves, our families and our vulnerable loved ones in particular, further economic and social restrictions will begin to be introduced from Christmas Eve. It is up to each one of us to rethink our plans for this Christmas period, especially when it comes to visiting older or more medically vulnerable family members and friends.
“With the authorisation of the first COVID-19 vaccine by the European Commission yesterday, our national vaccine programme can begin in the very near future and this gives us cause for hope. However, widespread vaccination of the population will take time, so we need to continue to adhere to the public health advice on hand washing, keeping 2m distance, wearing face coverings where appropriate, covering our coughs and reducing our social contacts for the duration of the Level 5 restrictions. By working together we can reduce the spread of COVID-19 and safeguard our schools and our hospitals.”
New Cases in Laois
- December 21 – 13
- December 20 – 1
- December 19 – 19
- December 18 – 11
- December 17 – 10
- December 16 – 23
- December 15 – 13
- December 14 – 5
- December 13 – 8
- December 12 – 22
- December 11 – 9
- December 10 – 18
- December 9 – 2
- December 8 – 3
- December 7 – 2
14-day case rate in Laois per 100,000 population
- December 21 – 186.5
- December 20 – 173.6
- December 19 – 174.7
- December 18 – 152.3
- December 17 – 149.9
- December 16 – 141.7
- December 15 – 113.3
- December 14 – 100.4
- December 13 – 99.2
- December 12 – 94.5
- December 11 – 73.2
- December 10 – 66.1
- December 9 – 49.6
- December 8 – 54.3
- December 7 – 56.7
- December 6 – 55.7
- December 5 – 55.5
New cases in Laois during past 14 days
- December 21 – 158
- December 20 – 147
- December 19 – 148
- December 18 – 129
- December 17 – 127
- December 16 – 120
- December 15 – 96
- December 14 – 85
- December 13 – 84
- December 12 – 80
- December 11 – 62
- December 10 – 56
- December 9 – 42
- December 8 – 46
- December 7 – 48
- December 6 – 47
- December 5 – 47
First vaccination set for December 30
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said the first Covid-19 vaccines will be administered on 30 December.
Minister Donnelly said frontline healthcare workers and nursing homes will be vaccinated first and they can “then have a different conversation about opening up”.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, he said just under 10,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine are expected to arrive in Ireland on St Stephen’s Day.
The minister said that a second shipment of “several tens of thousands doses” would arrive in the first week of January and every week from then.
