There have been a further three Coronavirus-related deaths and 525 new cases according to the figures released by the health authorities this evening.
Eight of the new cases are in Laois meaning the county’s 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 people is now at 177.1 from 183 yesterday, which was the first time it dropped under 200 since December 27. The current national 14-daye rate is 172.3.
The current rate in Laois is now at its lowest point since December 20. It has dropped considerably in the past two weeks having been 297.5 on February 20 and 259.7 a week ago.
Of the cases notified today:
- 271 are men/254 are women
- 74% are under 45 years of age
- The median age is 31 years old
- 214 in Dublin, 37 in Meath, 28 in Offaly, 28 in Limerick and 25 in Wicklow and the remaining 193 cases are spread across 19 other counties***.
As of 8am today, 423 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 103 are in ICU. 14 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
As of March 4th, 493,873 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland:
- 346,256 people have received their first dose
- 147,617 people have received their second dose
New Cases in Laois
- March 6 – 8
- March 5 – 5
- March 4 – 10
- March 3 – 4
- March 2 – 11
- March 1 – 1
- February 28 – 12
- February 27 – 14
- February 26 – 15
- February 25 – 15
- February 24 – 9
- February 23 – 18
- February 22 – 10
- February 21 – 10
- February 20 – 13
- February 19 – 29
14-day case rate in Laois per 100,000 population
- March 6 – 177.1
- March 5 – 183
- March 4 – 211.3
- March 3 – 213.7
- March 2 – 231.4
- March 1 – 247.9
- February 28 – 265.7
- February 27 – 259.7
- February 26 – 264.5
- February 25 – 277.5
- February 24 – 278.6
- February 23 – 292.5
- February 22 – 295
- February 21 – 294
- February 20 – 297.5
- February 19 – 307
New cases in Laois during past 14 days
- March 6 – 150
- March 5 – 155
- March 4 – 179
- March 3 – 181
- March 2 – 196
- March 1 – 210
- February 28 – 225
- February 27 – 220
- February 26 – 224
- February 25 – 235
- February 24 – 236
- February 23 – 248
- February 22 – 250
- February 21 – 249
- February 20 – 252
- February 19 – 260
Mandatory quarantine becomes law
The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD has welcomed the news that President Micheal D. Higgins has signed the Health (Amendment) Bill 2021, and, as such, the Bill has become law.
The Bill, that was published on Friday, February 19, and completed its passage through the Dáil and Seanad on 1 March, provides for a system of mandatory quarantine at designated facilities.
Minister Donnelly said: “The Health (Amendment) Act 2021 is another important element of Ireland’s defence against COVID-19 and I welcome today’s news that it has become law. The operationalisation of designated quarantine facilities is being advanced on a cross-departmental basis as a matter of priority.”
The Department of Health is leading the implementation process, supported by a number of Departments and agencies including Foreign Affairs, Transport, Justice, Public Expenditure and Reform, as well as Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Defence Forces, as well as via input from the private sector.
“The next step in this process is to finalise and sign a contract with a service provider. I anticipate this will happen shortly”, said Minister Donnelly.
The Government continues to advise against all non-essential international travel and a range of statutory measures are in place to reinforce this policy.
Passengers travelling to Ireland from certain designated states must complete a full 14-day quarantine period. This applies to all passengers from designated states, regardless of nationality and the aim of this measure is to protect the population from challenges posed by new variants of concern. A list of designated states is available on www.gov.ie./quarantine.
A National Oversight Group for Variants of Concern has been established to monitor and address the challenges posed by VOC. The Group provides advice to the Chief Medical Officer, who in turn advises the Minister for Health on countries to be specified as designated states. The list of designated states is subject to continuing review.
