“Now is not the time to be socialising, it’s just too risky,” warns NPHET, as a further 575 were confirmed in Ireland today.
There are concerns over increased movement and gatherings in Ireland in the past week.
Twenty new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Donegal this evening.
No new Covid-19 related deaths have been reported in Ireland today.
Donegal has recorded 225 new cases of Covid-19 in the past two weeks, bringing the 14-day incidence rate to 141 per 100,000.
As of 8am today, 360 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised in Ireland, of which 85 are in ICU. There have been 25 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said: “I noted last week that we are also seeing an increase in mobility, and, while some increase is to be expected due to many returning to school, we must continue to be very cautious. Now is not the time to be socialising, it’s just too risky.
“We must do all we can to continue to suppress this virus and to ensure that as many people as possible get to benefit from vaccination over the coming months. Each of us knows the range of tried and trusted tools at our disposal. If we continue to keep our distance, wash our hands, wear face masks and stay home we will continue to drive down transmission of this disease.”
Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health said: “While there has been a very understandable focus on the vaccine programme over recent days, we must not lose sight of the danger that COVID-19 continues to pose. While, in time, vaccines will have a very significant positive impact on COVID, they will not stop a further wave of disease over the coming weeks. We are seeing this play out across Europe with many countries now experiencing pressure on their hospital and critical care capacities. We must not let this happen here.
“Together, we have done an extraordinary job of driving down incidence of disease. These efforts are cause for real hope and, if we can return to decreasing indicators of disease, we can continue to protect our loved ones and look forward to much brighter days ahead.”
