Ireland is one of the EU nations with highest COVID-19 infection rates
DUBLIN: The rate of COVID-19 infection is rising across the Republic of Ireland, which is cause for serious concern. Statistics reveal that Ireland, with a population of just under 5 million, is quickly becoming one of the most coronavirus-infected nations in Europe. Last week alone, 10,000 new cases were reported here.
The deputy chief medical officer, Dr Ronan Glynn, said that counties Donegal, Monaghan, Mayo, Galway, Roscommon, Louth, and Cavan have an extremely high incidence of the disease.
The latest figures from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control show that Ireland has a 14-day incidence rate of 392 cases per 100,000 people, making it one of the EU countries with the highest rates of COVID-19 infection.
Only Cyprus (931 infections per 100,000 people), Spain (604 per 100,000) and France (462) have a higher infection rate than Ireland. Statistics also show that Northern Ireland and its borders are also among the most COVID-infected regions in Europe.
According to the Deputy CMO, the new concern is that the infection is growing not just among young people but also among people of all ages.
“At the peak of the second wave in October we had 47 people in critical care. Today we have 43, with eight new admissions in the last 24 hours,” Dr Glynn said.
1,978 new COVID-19 cases
Yesterday, the Department of Health confirmed 1978 new COVID-19 cases in the country. There were 221 COVID-19 patients in the hospital yesterday morning, with 43 of them being treated in intensive care.
“Vaccines work, but they must also be supported by all of us continuing to follow the public health advice to keep each other safe and break the chains of transmission of Covid-19. If you plan to socialise this weekend, risk assess your plans,” Dr Glynn said.
“While vaccination has very positively impacted on the proportion of positive cases who end up in hospital or critical care, the current high and increasing incidence will nevertheless result in a significant number of people getting very sick with COVID-19,” he added.
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