The health authorities have announced one further Coronavirus-related death and 687 new cases.
12 of today’s cases are in Laois, meaning the county’s 14-day incidence rate moves to 265.7 and from 259.7 yesterday.
While there have been no new admissions to ICU in the last 24 hours – the first time that has happened since St Stephen’s Day.
There are now 540 people in hospitals across the country, with 120 of those in ICU.
Of the cases notified today:
- 352 are men / 334 are female
- 71% are under 45 years of age
- The median age is 30 years old
- 240 in Dublin, 49 in Limerick, 44 in Offaly, 40 in Galway, 36 in Louth and the remaining 278 cases are spread across 19 other counties
As of February 26th, 426,070 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland:
- 285,780 people have received their first dose
- 140,290 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.
Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, the Department of Health said; “While the number of daily cases and the number of people in hospital and critical care remain high, we continue to make progress.
“In the last 24 hours, we have had no new admissions to critical care, the first time this has happened since St. Stephen’s Day.
“This is one more tangible signal of the efforts that people continue to make and how those efforts are impacting positively on the trajectory of COVID-19 in Ireland. Please stick with this over the coming weeks.”
Professor Pete Lunn, Head of the Behavioural Research Unit, ESRI said; “Data from the Public Opinion Tracking Survey Research (Amárach/Department of Health) and from the new Social Activity Measure (ESRI/Department of the Taoiseach), give insight into how people are coping with the prolonged period of restrictions.
“The evidence shows that while people are finding it tough going, the large majority (79%) believe that preventing the spread of Covid-19 is more important than the burden of restrictions. Just 10% disagree.
“This pattern helps to explain how measures of compliance have been rising in recent weeks and months, despite the frustrations that people feel,” said Professor Pete Lunn, Head of the Behavioural Research Unit at the ESRI, who analysed the data.
“Just because we feel a particular way, does not mean that this feeling dictates our behaviour. Rather, the large majority of people in Ireland support the restrictions and are sticking to them, despite the frustrations.
“The data also show systematic misperceptions about socially activity. Presently, half the adult population does not meet up with anyone outside their household over a 48-hour period, with less than one quarter meeting up with three or more.
“Yet these more socially active people believe that they are meeting fewer people than average.
“There is a clear misperception. Most people believe that others are enjoying more of a social life than they are. Those who are in fact most socially active do not realise this.
“The finding is important, and we need to try to correct this misperception. When people appreciate effort being made by others, they typically become more likely to follow.”
New Cases in Laois
- 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
- February 18 – 13
- February 17 – 22
- February 16 – 24
- February 15 – 15
- February 14 – 7
14-day case rate in Laois per 100,000 population
- 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
- February 18 – 299.9
- February 17 – 303.4
- February 16 – 305.8
- February 15 – 284.5
- February 14 – 273.9
New cases in Laois during past 14 days
-
- 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
- February 18 – 254
- February 17 – 257
- February 16 – 259
- February 15 – 241
- February 14 – 232
Vaccine Passports
The European Commission will present a proposal this month on creating an EU-wide digital Covid-19 vaccination passport that may allow Europeans to travel more freely over the peak summer holiday period.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the coming legislative proposal in a speech to German conservative politicians today, providing a few more details in subsequent tweets.
The “digital green pass” would provide proof that a person has been vaccinated, results of tests for those not yet vaccinated and information on recovery for people who have contracted Covid-19.
“The aim is to gradually enable them to move safely in the European Union or abroad – for work or tourism,” she said.
The Digital Green Pass should facilitate Europeans‘ lives.
The aim is to gradually enable them to move safely in the European Union or abroad – for work or tourism.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 1, 2021
SEE ALSO – Widespread disappointment as three Bank of Ireland branches in Laois to close
