Statement from the National Public Health Emergency Team - Wednesday 5 August
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From: Department of Health
- Published on: 5 August 2020
- Last updated on: 20 August 2020
There have been no new deaths reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre today.
There has been a total of 1,763 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.
As of midnight Tuesday 4 August, the HPSC has been notified of 50 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 26,303 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.
Of the cases notified today:
- 31 are men and 19 are women
- 81% are under 45 years of age
- 42 are associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case
- 4 cases have been identified as community transmission
- 11 cases are located in Wexford, 10 in Kildare, 6 in Dublin, 5 in Donegal, and 18 are spread across nine other counties (Carlow, Cork, Limerick, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Sligo, Tipperary and Wicklow)
The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread.
Dr Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said:
"I know the decision yesterday not to move to Phase 4 will have been disappointing for many. However, NPHET’s priority must be to control the spread of this virus in our communities and to protect the progress that we have achieved to date.
"COVID-19 is an extremely contagious virus and we have seen a significant increase in its spread across multiple counties over recent days. We are monitoring this very closely.
"Our focus over the coming weeks will be on continuing every effort to slow the spread of the virus so that our schools can reopen, our healthcare services resume, and our nursing homes are protected.
"I would also like to emphasise again the importance of continuing to practice safe behaviours such as physical distancing, washing our hands regularly, wearing a face covering where appropriate, avoiding crowds and downloading the COVID Tracker app. Doing these things makes a real difference when it comes to controlling the spread of this virus."
ENDS
Notes to the Editor:
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.
Know the symptoms of COVID-19
They are:
- a fever (high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above)
- a cough - this can be any kind of cough, not just dry
- shortness of breath or breathing difficulties
- loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- flu like symptoms
The COVID-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of COVID-19 in the community.
Hospital statistics
| Total number of cases | 26,255 |
| Total number hospitalised | 3,357 |
| Total number admitted to ICU | 439 |
| Total number of deaths | 1,507 |
| Total number of healthcare workers | 8,442 |
| Number clusters notified | 2,323 |
| Cases associated with clusters | 14,128 |
| Median age | 47 |
- All statistics measured at midnight on Monday 3 August.
Gender of patients
| Gender | Number of cases | % of total |
| Female | 14,926 | 56.9 |
| Male | 11,301 | 43 |
| Unknown | 28 | 0.1 |
| Total | 26,209 |
- All statistics measured at midnight on Monday 3 August.
Age range affected
| Age range | Number of cases |
| 0 - 4 | 210 |
| 5 - 14 | 372 |
| 15 - 24 | 2044 |
| 25 - 34 | 4492 |
| 35 - 44 | 4612 |
| 45 - 54 | 4678 |
| 55 - 64 | 3299 |
| 65 - 74 | 1840 |
| 75 - 84 | 2311 |
| 85+ | 2376 |
| Unknown | 21 |
- All statistics measured at midnight on Monday 3 August.
How COVID-19 is spreading
| Transmission classification | % |
| Community transmission | 31.4 |
| Close contact with confirmed case | 66 |
| Travel abroad | 2.5 |
- All statistics measured at midnight on Monday 3 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 | 77 |
| 25 - 34 | 200 |
| 35 - 44 | 275 |
| 45 - 54 | 451 |
| 55 - 64 | 499 |
| 65 - 74 | 588 |
| 75 - 84 | 746 |
| 85+ | 478 |
| Unknown | 1 |
- All statistics measured at midnight on Monday 3 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 previous day |
| Carlow | 179 | 0.7 | No change |
| Cavan | 878 | 3.3 | +2 |
| Clare | 399 | 1.5 | No change |
| Cork | 1570 | 6 | +1 |
| Donegal | 476 | 1.8 | No change |
| Dublin | 12559 | 47.9 | +8 |
| Galway | 498 | 1.9 | No change |
| Kerry | 318 | 1.2 | No change |
| Kildare | 1651 | 6.3 | +33 |
| Kilkenny | 357 | 1.4 | No change |
| Laois | 314 | 1.2 | +1 |
| Leitrim | 85 | 0.3 | No change |
| Limerick | 610 | 2.3 | No change |
| Longford | 288 | 1.1 | No change |
| Louth | 795 | 3 | No change |
| Mayo | 583 | 2.2 | No change |
| Meath | 831 | 3.2 | No change |
| Monaghan | 542 | 2.1 | No change |
| Offaly | 497 | 1.9 | No change |
| Roscommon | 346 | 1.3 | No change |
| Sligo | 151 | 0.6 | +1 |
| Tipperary | 545 | 2.1 | No change |
| Waterford | 166 | 0.6 | No change |
| Westmeath | 681 | 2.6 | +1 |
| Wexford | 224 | 0.9 | No change |
| Wicklow | 712 | 2.7 | No change |
- All statistics measured at midnight on Monday 3 August.