ANOTHER 34 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Donegal this evening.
There are 2,121 new cases nationally, and eight more people have died with the virus this month.
The median age of those who died is 85 years and the age range is 49-93 years.
As of 2pm today, 1,975 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 200 are in ICU. There have been 102 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
As daily case numbers come down, health officials are urging people to continue their individual contribution to the effort.
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “This third wave of the pandemic has seen higher level of hospitalisations across all age groups. There are now more sick people in hospital than any time in the course of this pandemic. The risk that this disease poses to the individual who is infected has not changed.
“What has changed is that we are experiencing a much greater level of community transmission and as a result we are seeing higher numbers of people with severe illness who require hospitalisation or admission to intensive care and higher numbers of mortality.
“Please continue to stay at home and drive down this infection in our community.”
Dr. Vida Hamilton, National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead, Acute Hospitals, HSE, said: “We are now one week operating in critical surge capacity, the first time we have had to rely on this during the pandemic. Our staff escalation plan is in operation and we are very grateful for the non-critical care staff who are supporting the delivery of these critical services. Patients across the health service are very sick. The message from your healthcare workers is to please stay at home and continue to interrupt the spread of COVID-19.”
