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Press release

Statement from the National Public Health Emergency Team - Thursday 10 December

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 15 additional deaths related to COVID-19.

There has been a total of 2,117 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of midnight Wednesday 9 December, the HPSC has been notified of 310 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There has now been a total of 75,203* confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

(*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.

ENDS

Slides from the NPHET press briefing - Thursday 10 December
Slides shown at the NPHET press conference by Prof. Philip Nolan on Thursday 10 December.
View the file View

Today’s cases, 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 population and new cases in last 14 days (as of midnight 9 December 2020) (incidence rate based on Census 2016 county population)

County Today’s Cases (to midnight 9/12/20) 14-Day incidence rate per 100,000 population (14 days to midnight 9/12/20) New Cases during last 14 days (14 days to midnight 9/12/20)
Ireland 310 79 3,764
Donegal 27 230.5 367
Kilkenny 15 175.3 174
Louth 25 159.8 206
Carlow 11 135.2 77
Monaghan 8 130.3 80
Limerick 8 127.8 249
Wicklow 13 118 168
Dublin 80 90.9 1,225
Longford <5 83.2 34
Waterford 15 82.6 96
Tipperary 15 78.3 125
Mayo 11 75.9 99
Cavan 10 72.2 55
Offaly 0 62.9 49
Galway 13 60.1 155
Meath 15 54.9 107
Kildare 12 53 118
Roscommon <5 52.7 34
Laois <5 49.6 42
Sligo <5 33.6 22
Clare <5 32.8 39
Cork 11 27.1 147
Wexford 5 24.7 37
Kerry 0 23.7 35
Westmeath 0 20.3 18
Leitrim <5 18.7 6

Hospital statistics

Total number of cases 74,893
Total number hospitalised 5,380
Total number admitted to ICU 638
Total number of deaths 1,858
Total number of healthcare workers 12,363
Number clusters notified 9,983
Cases associated with clusters 41,651
Median age 39
  • All statistics measured at midnight on Tuesday 8 December.

Gender of patients

Gender Number of cases
Male 35,285
Female 39,574
Unknown 34
Total 74,893
  • All statistics measured at midnight on Tuesday 8 December.

Age range affected

Age range Number of cases
0 - 4 1,986
5 - 14 4,896
15 - 24 13,039
25 - 34 12,567
35 - 44 11,744
45 - 54 11,294
55 - 64 7,979
65 - 74 4,307
75 - 84 3,763
85+ 3,290
Unknown 28
  • All statistics measured at midnight on Tuesday 8 December.

How COVID-19 is spreading

Transmission classification %
Community transmission 29.9
Close contact with confirmed case 67.7
Travel abroad 1.4
Unknown 1
  • All statistics measured at midnight on Tuesday 8 December.

Note:

When a person tests positive for COVID-19 but 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 close contact.


Hospitalised cases by age group

Age range Number of cases
0 - 4 58
5 - 14 52
15 - 24 173
25 - 34 335
35 - 44 425
45 - 54 670
55 - 64 769
65 - 74 976
75 - 84 1,190
85+ 730
Unknown 2
  • All statistics measured at midnight on Tuesday 8 December.

Cases by county

County Number of cases Change since the day before
Carlow 686 +3
Cavan 2,225 +8
Clare 1,519 +1
Cork 6,474 +5
Donegal 3,199 +25
Dublin 27,880 +68
Galway 2,755 +10
Kerry 1,351 No change
Kildare 4,169 +7
Kilkenny 1,153 +14
Laois 1,014 +2
Leitrim 269 No change
Limerick 2,940 +19
Longford 674 +1
Louth 2,272 +14
Mayo 1,511 +7
Meath 3,460 +10
Monaghan 1,303 +5
Offaly 1,201 +4
Roscommon 964 +1
Sligo 754 No change
Tipperary 1,592 +2
Waterford 1,091 +8
Westmeath 1,552 -5
Wexford 1,227 +7
Wicklow 1,658 +5
  • All statistics measured at midnight on Tuesday 8 December.