There have been a further 17 Coronavirus-related deaths and a massive 7,836 new cases, according to figures released by the health authorities this evening.
Of the new cases announced today, 107 of them are in Laois, meaning the county’s 14-day incidence rate goes to 606.9, up from 493.5 yesterday.
There are now 514 confirmed active cases in the county compared to 418 yesterday.
The national incidence rate is now at 819.1, compared to 674 yesterday.
Of the cases notified today:
- 3,740 are men / 4,078 are women
- 63% are under 45 years of age
- The median age is 36 years old
- 2,263 in Dublin, 1,373 in Cork, 496 in Louth, 345 in Limerick, 340 in Meath and the remaining 3,019 cases are spread across all other counties.
As of 2pm today, 954 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 88 are in ICU. 105 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “The country is in a serious phase of this surge of COVID-19. There is evidence of an increasing presence of the UK variant in Ireland.
“All counties have an upward trajectory of the disease. There is concerning escalation of admissions to hospital and ICU. We are very likely to see escalating mortality and ICU admissions in the coming days and weeks.
“It has never been more important, throughout our experience of this pandemic, to stay home and only meet people outside of your household for essential purposes, always adhering to public health advice; physical distance, hand hygiene, cough/sneeze etiquette, wearing a face covering.”
New Cases in Laois
- January 5 – 107
- January 4 – 12
- January 3 – 80
- January 2 – 40
- January 1 – 104
- December 31 – 12
- December 30 – 50
- December 29 – 23
- December 28 – 38
- December 27 – 5
- December 26 – 2
- December 24 and 25 – 45
- December 23 – 12
- December 22 – 10
14-day case rate in Laois per 100,000 population
- January 5 – 606.9
- January 4 – 493.5
- January 3 – 494.7
- January 2 – 406.2
- January 1 – 381.4
- December 31 – 271.6
- December 30 – 269.2
- 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
New cases in Laois during past 14 days
- January 5 – 514
- January 4 – 418
- January 3 – 419
- January 2 – 344
- January 1 – 323
- December 31 – 230
- December 30 – 228
- December 29 – 201
- December 28 – 191
- December 27 – 158
- December 26 – 161
- December 24 and 25 – Unknown
- December 23 – 176
- December 22 – 165
Moderna vaccine approved
The European Commission has given approval for the use of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine in the European Union, the final step required to allow its use across the continent.
The news has been welcomed by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar who said the vaccine would allow 10,000 more people in Ireland to be vaccinated a week.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, posting a video on Twitter, said Ireland had pre-ordered 875,000 of Moderna vaccine and 3.3 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
