Dr Tony Holohan has given some cause for optimism after the number of cases of Covid dropped yesterday.
At the beginning of January, an average of 6,000 new cases were being reported daily.
However, that number is dropping and fell to 2,001 cases yesterday.
The number of Covid deaths did spike yesterday to a record high of 93 deaths but rising death figures had been signalled in recent days.
Chief Medical officer Dr Holohan said a move towards a positive shift in attitude was beginning to pay off.
He said “We are starting to see the early results of our collective efforts to minimise the transmission of the virus.”
However, he warned we must continue to follow the regulations and that we simply cannot afford to drop our guard against the virus.
“COVID-19 ICU and hospitalisation numbers are of critical concern to us, representing a very significant pressure on our healthcare workers and on the provision of acute medical and surgical non-COVID care.
“We need everyone to stay at home, other than for essential reasons,’ said the CMO. ‘The more that each individual follows this advice in their everyday lives, the more we can drive down the spread of COVID-19 and minimise the impact on vital healthcare services, patients and frontline workers,” he said.
