FORTY-FOUR new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Donegal this evening.
Health officials have confirmed 727 further cases nationally.
No additional Covid-19 deaths were reported today.
Over the past 14 days, there have been 436 new cases of the coronavirus in Donegal.
The county’s 14-day incidence rate, per 100,000 population remains the highest in the country at 273.9.
Of the cases notified today: 359 are men / 366 are women; 62 per cent are under 45 years of age; the median age is 36 years old.
Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “Our current disease trends are gravely concerning. The situation has deteriorated rapidly in recent days. A total of 3,837 cases have been notified in the past seven days.
“The five day rolling average has increased from 339 on 17th December to 616 on 21st December, an 82 per cent increase. It is now as important as it was back in March to limit your contacts and protect your loved ones.”
Dr Lorraine Nolan, Chief Executive, Health Products Regulatory Authority, said: “Today we welcome a highly significant announcement from the European Medicines Agency in their recommendation to approve a first vaccine for Covid-19 in Europe.
“It is a key development in our continued efforts to tackling this pandemic. This will become one additional defence in our suite of public health actions to protect us from Covid-19.”
Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said: “The virus is transmitting very rapidly, faster than we have seen at any point since March. The case numbers are growing at least 5-7 per cent per day and, of particular concern, across all age groups.”
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