Coronavirus: 15 further deaths and 310 new cases

(*Validation of data at the HPSC has resulted in the denotification of 7 confirmed cases.

The figure of 75,203 confirmed cases reflects this.)

Of the cases notified today:

• 162 are men and 148 are women
• 61% are under 45 years of age
• the median age is 39 years old
• 80 in Dublin,
• 27 in Donegal,
• 25 in Louth,
• 15 in Kilkenny,
• 15 in Waterford,
• 15 in Tipperary,
• 15 in Meath
• and the remaining 118 cases are spread across 16 other counties

As of 2pm today, 202 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 36 are in ICU. There have been 15 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “Tomorrow marks 14 days to Christmas Day. To ensure the safest possible interaction with your family over Christmas, consider restricting your movements now.

“Risk assess the environments you plan to be in over the next two weeks; are they compliant with public health measures? Can you keep a two metre distance? Are people wearing face coverings?

Now is the time to make decisions about what interactions are necessary and pose the lowest risk to you, your family and friends over Christmas.”

Dr. Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “It is important that the encouraging plans for vaccine rollout in 2021 do not distract from the actions we need to take as we face into December 2020.

A vaccine will have no positive impact on the trajectory of this disease over the coming weeks and does not give immunity to people over the Christmas period.

We must not allow COVID-19 to spread through our communities now, after all the efforts we have made throughout 2020 and how close we are to beginning to vaccinate.”

Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said: “The reproduction number is now estimated to be close to 1.0.

This is a testament to the very large number of people who continue to limit their contacts and follow public health advice.

Please be mindful that this remains a very dangerous virus, especially for vulnerable and older persons.

We have the know-how and the determination to keep suppressing this disease, to protect our family and friends over Christmas.”

Professor Karina Butler, Chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, said: “As we await final analysis of vaccines by the European Medicines Agency, the FDA analysis of the data around Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine has affirmed its efficacy.

These are encouraging signs; however, it is important to ensure full EMA approval before vaccine rollout in Ireland.”

The COVID-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of COVID-19 in the community.