ON A day when six further deaths and 23 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) has urged immediate ‘care and caution’.
Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said today that the R-number is now at or above one.
The number of reported cases has increased over the last two weeks.
“There is an immediate need for all of us to take care and caution in our decisions and actions,” he said at this evening’s Department of Health briefing on Covid-19.
The R number indicates the number of people on average that an infected person will pass the virus on to.
Another six patients who had contracted Covid-19 have died, bringing to 1,743 the total number of deaths since the outbreak.
Today’s 23 new cases mean there have been a total of 25,565 infections.
Dr. Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “Today, NPHET has recommended that all visitors to healthcare settings, including hospitals, GP practices and pharmacies, should wear face coverings.
“Fifteen of today’s confirmed cases are directly or indirectly related to travel. NPHET today reiterates that all non-essential travel overseas should be avoided.
“In addition, 77 per cent of cases reported today are under 25 years of age.
“Covid-19 is extremely infectious and none of us are immune. It is important that we all continue to follow public health advice and risk assess our actions.”
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