DUBLIN: The Department of Health and the HSE have confirmed that COVID-19 spread, death and infection rates are declining in Ireland. The Deputy Chief medical officer, Dr. Ronan Glynn, said that 303 new cases and two deaths reported in Ireland yesterday. This is the lowest daily cases reported since mid-December.
Deputy CMO Dr. Glynn said: “There are many reasons for hope as we head into a new week. This is the lowest number of daily cases reported since mid-December. People’s efforts continue to make a real difference; by keeping our social contacts low we are making it much harder for COVID-19 to spread,” he said.
“This morning we had the lowest number of people newly hospitalised with COVID-19 since the end of November,” he added.
HSE chief executive Paul Reid said the number of COVID-19 deaths had dropped significantly from February to March. The monthly mortality rate is 76% lower.
Mr. Reid said that “the vaccination programme is showing significant benefits”. He pointed out that the positivity from testing in nursing homes is at an all-time low (0.08%).There was also a significant reduction in infections among health workers.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly also noted that the fight against COVID-19 is progressing well. The minister said the number of cases in nursing homes, hospitals and health care workers has dropped significantly.
Vaccination and health guidelines are our strategies
“Last week the millionth vaccine was given and this week should see a step-change in the number of doses administered. All of our children are going back to school tomorrow. From tomorrow we can travel within our county. If we can maintain this progress, vaccines and the basic public health measures with which we are all so familiar, are our way out of this pandemic,” Dr. Glynn said.
“Please do not take our children returning to school tomorrow as a signal to return to the workplace. Avoid mixing indoors with people from other households. Even if meeting outdoors, please watch your distance and only meet up with people from one other household at a time,” Dr. Glynn warned.
With the confirmation of 303 cases yesterday, the country’s total number of confirmed cases stands at 240,945 so far. The death toll from COVID-19 in Ireland is 4,785. Of the new 303 cases, 167 were men and 135 were women. 75% of them are under 45 years of age and the median age is 32.
As of April 8, 1,045,919 doses of COVID-19 vaccine were administered in Ireland. 735,997 received the first dose and 309,922 received the second dose.
One death and 89 new cases were reported yesterday in Northern Ireland. The infection rate is 34.9 per lakh people, Dr. Glynn said.
For the first time, GPs are being trained to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to vulnerable people between the ages of 16 and 69. Mr. Reid explained that nearly 1,100 practices are preparing to take part in the vaccination program in the coming days. Several walk-in test centers for COVID-19 will operate until April 16 in Mulhuddart, Ballyfermot, Finglas and Crumlin in Dublin, Waterford and Limerick.
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