There have been four further Coronavirus-related deaths and 420 new cases, according to figures released by the health authorities today.
Of the deaths reported today, all occurred in April.
The Department of Health no longer provides a county-by-county breakdown of cases at weekends so we do not know how many of these cases are in Laois.
Of the cases notified today:
- 211 are men / 206 are women
- 74% are under 45 years of age
- The median age is 32 years old
As of 8am today, 183 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 50 are in ICU. 7 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
As of April 15th, 2021, 1,155,599 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland:
- 814,470 people have received their first dose
- 341,129 people have received their second dose
The COVID-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of COVID-19 in the community including daily data on Ireland’s COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.
Under 30s could get vaccine sooner
Those aged 18-30 could receive their Covid-19 vaccine shot sooner than anticipated under new plans being explored by the Minister for Health.
Stephen Donnelly told the Irish Times this could happen in order to reduce the spread of coronavirus ahead of the wider reopening of society.
He has asked officials to examine the possibility of revising the order of age cohorts scheduled to receive the vaccine so that younger people in the 18-30 age group would get their shots once those in their 60s are vaccinated.
He said: “I’ve asked the department to assess the case for vaccinating younger cohorts earlier, on the basis of reducing overall transmission as quickly as possible.”
But HSE chief Paul Reid appeared to pour cold water on the idea today – saying that all evidence so far suggests that the vaccine should be administered on the basis of age.
He said: “That is where the highest risk is. That is the plan we are working through right now.”
He said that if the Government changed tack, then the HSE would change its plans accordingly but added that “all the medical and scientific advice… is to administer it based on age”.
