There have been 13 further Coronavirus-related deaths and 1,718 new cases according to figures released this evening by the health authorities.
23 of the new cases are in Laois, meaning the county’s 14-day incidence rate now stands at 237.3 from 225.5 yesterday. The national incidence rate is currently 272.7 up from 245.6 yesterday.
Of the cases notified today;
- 853 are men / 863 are women
- 66% are under 45 years of age
- The median age is 34 years old
- 358 in Dublin, 164 in Cork, 155 in Louth, 150 in Donegal, 112 in Galway and the remaining 779 cases are spread across all other counties.
As of 2pm today 455 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 37 are in ICU. 60 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
“It is essential that we all limit our contacts to our own household now, restrict our movements and do not give COVID-19 any further opportunities to spread.Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; ““Ireland is no longer in a containment phase and is once again in a mitigation phase. Given the current levels of transmission in the community, every individual should consider themselves potentially infectious.
“Everyone needs to stay at home other than for essential work or care. This is not the time to be visiting other houses.”
Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said; “The reproduction number remains very high and is currently estimated at 1.6 – 1.8. The growth rate is estimated to be 7-10% per day with a doubling time of 7-10 days.
“We must take action immediately to prevent an almost unimaginable scenario, where case numbers in 7 to 10 days time are twice what they are today. Stay home.”
New Cases in Laois
- December 29 – 23
- December 28 – 38
- December 27 – 5
- December 26 – 2
- December 24 and 25 – 45
- December 23 – 12
- December 22 – 10
- December 21 – 13
- December 20 – 1
- December 19 – 19
- December 18 – 11
- December 17 – 10
- December 16 – 23
14-day case rate in Laois per 100,000 population
- December 29 – 237.3
- December 28 – 225.6
- December 27 – 186.5
- December 26 – 190.6
- December 24 and 25 – Unknown
- December 23 – 207.8
- December 22 – 194.8
- December 21 – 186.5
- December 20 – 173.6
- December 19 – 174.7
- December 18 – 152.3
- December 17 – 149.9
- December 16 – 141.7
New cases in Laois during past 14 days
- December 29 – 201
- December 28 – 191
- December 27 – 158
- December 26 – 161
- December 24 and 25 – Unknown
- December 23 – 176
- December 22 – 165
- December 21 – 158
- December 20 – 147
- December 19 – 148
- December 18 – 129
- December 17 – 127
- December 16 – 120
Hospital numbers surge
There are 454 people with Covid-19 in hospitals around the country today, an increase from 409 yesterday, and 360 the day before.
Over the last 24 hours 59 people with the coronavirus were admitted to hospital. There are now 39 people with Covid-19 in intensive care, up from 34 yesterday.
Meanwhile, the HSE’s National Lead for Testing and Tracing has said they have seen a 41% rise in the demand for Covid-19 testing, with 63,000 referrals seen over the past week.
Speaking at a HSE briefing this afternoon, Niamh O’Beirne said they expect to see that number double next week, as it is sharply increasing at the moment.
She said this means that they expect to see swabbing sites around the country “maxing out at their daily capacity for testing”.
Ms O’Beirne said trends indicate in the coming days that they could be looking at 25,000 per day for several days.
SEE ALSO – Check out the 2020 Remembered series on LaoisToday
