Statement from the National Public Health Emergency Team - Wednesday 19 August
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From: Department of Health
- Published on: 19 August 2020
- Last updated on: 20 August 2020
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that 2 people with COVID-19 in Ireland have died.
There has now been a total of 1,775* COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland. (*Validation of data at the HPSC led to the denotification of 2 deaths. The figure of 1,775 reflects this.)
As of midnight Tuesday 18 August, the HPSC has been notified of 54 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 27,547** confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. (Validation of data at the HPSC led to the denotification of 6 confirmed cases. The figure of 27,547 reflects this.)
Of the cases notified today:
- 24 are men and 29 are women
- 67% are under 45 years of age
- 27 are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case
- 8 cases have been identified as community transmission
- 19 are in Dublin, 8 in Kildare, 5 in Tipperary and the rest of the cases are in Carlow, Clare, Donegal, Kerry, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Waterford and Wexford
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 COVID-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of COVID-19 in the community.
Dr. Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said:
"To save lives and suppress this virus we need everyone to reduce the number of people they meet over the next three weeks. A collective effort by households and by employers and organisations can make a huge impact on community transmission, and help to protect our families and communities from COVID-19.
"You can still play sport, go to a restaurant and meet friends, but we are asking you to do this in as safe a way as possible. Specifically focus on two numbers – 6 and 15. Do not have more than 6 people over to your house and garden, and outside, no more than 15 people should meet up, and even then you should remain socially distanced from one another."
ENDS
Additional information
Everyone should be aware of the risk factors for getting COVID-19:
- Distance – The risk of getting COVID-19 increases as the distance between you and others gets smaller. Keep 2 metres apart where possible
- Activity – How you spend time with people and what you do with them can increase your risk. Follow the government’s Stay Safe Guidelines when spending time with others
- Time – The more time you spend in close contact with other people can increase your risk of getting COVID-19. Keep track of who you spend time with and how
- Environment – Being outdoors is safer than being indoors. Where possible, meet with others outdoors. If this is not possible, keep windows and doors open when meeting others inside
- Symptoms – Know the symptoms. If you have them, self-isolate and contact your GP immediately
Public Health Advice for all citizens is available here.
Hospital statistics
| Total number of cases | 27,493 |
| Total number hospitalised | 3,389 |
| Total number admitted to ICU | 442 |
| Total number of deaths | 1,517 |
| Total number of healthcare workers | 8,523 |
| Number clusters notified | 2,520 |
| Cases associated with clusters | 14,979 |
| Median age | 47 |
- All statistics measured at midnight on Monday 17 August.
Gender of patients
| Gender | Number of cases | % of total |
| Female | 15,508 | 56.4 |
| Male | 11,956 | 43.5 |
| Unknown | 29 | 0.1 |
| Total | 27,493 |
- All statistics measured at midnight on Monday 17 August.
Age range affected
| Age range | Number of cases |
| 0 - 4 | 251 |
| 5 - 14 | 464 |
| 15 - 24 | 2,278 |
| 25 - 34 | 4,774 |
| 35 - 44 | 4,848 |
| 45 - 54 | 4,868 |
| 55 - 64 | 3,395 |
| 65 - 74 | 1,887 |
| 75 - 84 | 2,323 |
| 85+ | 2,384 |
| Unknown | 21 |
- All statistics measured at midnight on Monday 17 August.
How COVID-19 is spreading
| Transmission classification | % |
| Community transmission | 30.4 |
| Close contact with confirmed case | 66.7 |
| Travel abroad | 2.4 |
- All statistics measured at midnight on Monday 17 August.
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 close contact.
Hospitalised cases by age group
| Age range | Number of cases |
| 0 - 4 | 24 |
| 5 - 14 | 18 |
| 15 - 24 | 80 |
| 25 - 34 | 203 |
| 35 - 44 | 278 |
| 45 - 54 | 455 |
| 55 - 64 | 503 |
| 65 - 74 | 595 |
| 75 - 84 | 753 |
| 85+ | 479 |
| Unknown | 1 |
- All statistics measured at midnight on Monday 17 August.
Cases by county
Note: The Health Protection Surveillance Centre have advised that in the process of validating data and reviewing addresses, county totals may change due to cases being reassigned to another county. Totals can go up or down.
| County | Number of cases | % of total | Change since the day before |
| Carlow | 208 | 0.8 | +4 |
| Cavan | 882 | 3.2 | No change |
| Clare | 439 | 1.6 | +7 |
| Cork | 1,598 | 5.8 | +3 |
| Donegal | 505 | 1.8 | No change |
| Dublin | 12,809 | 46.6 | +49 |
| Galway | 508 | 1.9 | No change |
| Kerry | 322 | 1.2 | +1 |
| Kildare | 2,084 | 7.6 | +50 |
| Kilkenny | 376 | 1.4 | +4 |
| Laois | 363 | 1.3 | +1 |
| Leitrim | 85 | 0.3 | No change |
| Limerick | 675 | 2.5 | +20 |
| Longford | 290 | 1.1 | No change |
| Louth | 811 | 3 | +4 |
| Mayo | 585 | 2.1 | No change |
| Meath | 869 | 3.2 | +2 |
| Monaghan | 550 | 2 | No change |
| Offaly | 602 | 2.2 | +1 |
| Roscommon | 349 | 1.3 | -1 |
| Sligo | 156 | 0.6 | No change |
| Tipperary | 603 | 2.2 | +38 |
| Waterford | 171 | 0.6 | +3 |
| Westmeath | 683 | 2.5 | No change |
| Wexford | 251 | 0.9 | +4 |
| Wicklow | 719 | 2.6 | -6 |
- All statistics measured at midnight on Monday 17 August.