Statement from the National Public Health Emergency Team - Wednesday 18 March
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From: Department of Health
- Published on: 18 March 2020
- Last updated on: 18 March 2020
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been informed of 74 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.
The cases are made up of 29 females and 45 males.
There have been 2 deaths associated with COVID-19 in Ireland.
There are now 366 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.
The HSE is now working rapidly 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 has made available an analysis of the 271 cases notified as at midnight Monday, 16 March 2020:
- of the 271 cases notified, 40% are male and 59% female, with 23 clusters
- to date 42% cases are travel related, 22% associated with community transmission, 17% are as a result of local transmission and 20% remain under investigation
- two thirds of cases are younger than 55 years, with almost one in four cases aged 35 – 44 years
- 1 in 5 cases are healthcare workers with 37% of these cases associated with travel
- Dublin has the highest number of cases at 129, followed by Cork (48) and Limerick (14)
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer in the Department of Health, said:
"Again, today we are seeing another increase in case numbers. The importance of social distancing cannot be underestimated. Everyone must play their role.
“We need to continue maximising our efforts to interrupt new transmission chains and keep clusters under control.
“Reduce your social contacts to those in your closest family network. Practice social distancing. Stop shaking hands and hugging when you say hello.”
ENDS
Hospital statistics
| Source: HSPC | Number of people | *% of total |
| Total number hospitalised | 84 | 31 |
| Total number admitted to ICU | 6 | 2 |
| Total number deaths | 2 | 0.7 |
| Case fatality rate | 2 | 0.7 |
| Total number healthcare workers | 59 | 22 |
| Number clusters notified | 23 |
- All statistics measured on 16 March.
Age range affected
| Age group | Number of people | % of total |
| <1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1 - 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 - 14 | 4 | 1 |
| 15 - 24 | 28 | 10 |
| 25 - 34 | 48 | 18 |
| 35 - 44 | 62 | 23 |
| 45 - 54 | 40 | 15 |
| 55 - 64 | 46 | 17 |
| 65+ | 42 | 15 |
- All statistics measured on 16 March.
How COVID-19 is spreading
| Transmission classification | Number of people | % of total |
| Community transmission | 60 | 22 |
| Contact with a confirmed case | 45 | 17 |
| Travel abroad | 113 | 42 |
| Under investigation | 53 | 20 |
- All statistics measured on 16 March.
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.
Healthcare workers
| Travel related | 22 | 37% |
| No foreign travel | 36 | 61% |
| Under investigation | 1 | 2% |
| Total | 59 | 100% |
- All statistics measured on 16 March.
Cases by county
| County | Number of cases | |
| Carlow | ≤ 5 | |
| Cavan | ≤ 5 | |
| Clare | ≤ 5 | |
| Donegal | ≤ 5 | |
| Kildare | ≤ 5 | |
| Kilkenny | ≤ 5 | |
| Longford | ≤ 5 | |
| Louth | ≤ 5 | |
| Mayo | ≤ 5 | |
| Meath | ≤ 5 | |
| Offaly | ≤ 5 | |
| Roscommon | ≤ 5 | |
| Sligo | ≤ 5 | |
| Tipperary | ≤ 5 | |
| Wexford | ≤ 5 | |
| Kerry | 6 | |
| Waterford | 7 | |
| Westmeath | 7 | |
| Wicklow | 9 | |
| Galway | 12 | |
| Limerick | 14 | |
| Cork | 48 | |
| Dublin | 129 |
- All statistics measured on 16 March.
< means 'less than'.
≤ means 'less than or equal to'.