Statement from the National Public Health Emergency Team - Friday 24 April
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From: Department of Health
- Published on: 24 April 2020
- Last updated on: 24 April 2020
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that 37 people with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 in Ireland have died.
The HPSC has also been informed that, to date, 185 probable deaths have occurred. (A probable death is a death where a laboratory test has not been done but where a doctor believes a death is associated with COVID-19.)
Therefore, there have now been 1,014** confirmed COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.
As of 1pm Friday 24 April, the HPSC has been notified of 577 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 18,184 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.
The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread.
The National Public Health Emergency Team met today (Friday 24 April) to continue its ongoing review of Ireland’s response to COVID-19.
Following the meeting, NPHET recommends adopting the ECDC case definition on testing for COVID-19. The NPHET also recommends retention of the current prioritisation categories.
Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said:
"Every indicator to date suggests that the growth of this disease has either stabilised or suppressed. This is a testament to the efforts made by every individual across Ireland over recent weeks. There is no doubt that your efforts have saved many lives.
“It shows that when public health advice is followed, we can suppress this virus in the long term. Keep going.”
**Validation of data at the HPSC has resulted in the denotification of 2 deaths. The figure of 1,014 deaths reflects this.
Today’s data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Wednesday 22 April (17,420 cases), reveals:
- 57% are female and 43% are male
- the median age of confirmed cases is 49 years
- 2,486 cases (14%) have been hospitalised
- of those hospitalised, 338 cases have been admitted to ICU
- 4,713 cases are associated with healthcare workers
- Dublin has the highest number of cases at 8,729 (50% of all cases) followed by Cork with 1,096 cases (6%)
- of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 49%, close contact accounts for 47%, travel abroad accounts for 4%
Hospital statistics
| Total number of cases | 17,420 |
| Total number hospitalised | 2,486 |
| Total number admitted to ICU | 338 |
| Total number of deaths | 821 |
| Total number of healthcare workers | 4,713 |
| Number clusters notified | 548 |
| Cases associated with clusters | 4,565 |
| Median age | 49 |
- All statistics measured at midnight on Wednesday 22 April 2020.
Gender of patients
| Gender | Number | % of Total |
| Female | 9,893 | 56.8 |
| Male | 7,457 | 42.8 |
| Unknown | 70 | 0.4 |
| Total | 17,420 |
- All statistics measured at midnight on Wednesday 22 April 2020.
Age range affected
| Age Group | Number | % of Total |
| <1 | 30 | 0.2 |
| 1 - 4 | 62 | 0.4 |
| 5 - 14 | 177 | 1 |
| 15 - 24 | 1,130 | 6.5 |
| 25 - 34 | 2,838 | 16.3 |
| 35 - 44 | 3,041 | 17.5 |
| 45 - 54 | 3,280 | 18.8 |
| 55 - 64 | 2,408 | 13.8 |
| 65+ | 4,431 | 25.4 |
| Unknown | 23 | 0.1 |
- All statistics measured at midnight on Wednesday 22 April 2020.
How COVID-19 is spreading
| Community transmission | 63% |
| Close contact with confirmed case | 33% |
| Travel Abroad | 4% |
- All statistics measured at midnight on Wednesday 22 April 2020.
Note:
In the event that a person tests positive for COVID-19 and hasn't been abroad or had contact with another confirmed case in Ireland, that's known as community transmission.
In the event that a person who tests positive for COVID-19 can be linked to another confirmed case in Ireland, that's known as local transmission.
Hospitalised cases by age group
| Age range | Number of cases | Percentage of total |
| <5 | 14 | 0.6 |
| 5 - 14 | 8 | 0.3 |
| 15 - 24 | 53 | 2.1 |
| 25 - 34 | 155 | 6.2 |
| 35 - 44 | 210 | 8.4 |
| 45 - 54 | 343 | 13.8 |
| 55 - 64 | 379 | 15.2 |
| 65+ | 1321 | 53.1 |
| Unknown | 3 | 0.1 |
- All statistics measured at midnight on Wednesday 22 April 2020.
Cases by county
| Carlow | 86 | 0.5% |
| Cavan | 506 | 2.9% |
| Clare | 206 | 1.2% |
| Cork | 1096 | 6.3% |
| Donegal | 440 | 2.5% |
| Dublin | 8729 | 50.1% |
| Galway | 331 | 1.9% |
| Kerry | 271 | 1.6% |
| Kildare | 954 | 5.5% |
| Kilkenny | 227 | 1.3% |
| Laois | 202 | 1.2% |
| Leitrim | 62 | 0.4% |
| Limerick | 439 | 2.5% |
| Longford | 102 | 0.6% |
| Louth | 536 | 3.1% |
| Mayo | 391 | 2.2% |
| Meath | 568 | 3.3% |
| Monaghan | 318 | 1.8% |
| Offaly | 217 | 1.2% |
| Roscommon | 111 | 0.6% |
| Sligo | 105 | 0.6% |
| Tipperary | 343 | 2% |
| Waterford | 122 | 0.7% |
| Westmeath | 409 | 2.3% |
| Wexford | 143 | 0.8% |
| Wicklow | 506 | 2.9% |
- All statistics measured at midnight on Wednesday 22 April 2020.
≤ means 'less than or equal to'.