THIRTY-ONE more Covid-19 cases have been confirmed in Donegal this afternoon.
The case numbers in Donegal are second only to Dublin (150), with the county’s 14-day incidence rate now at 277.7.
Nationally, six further deaths and 411 new cases were announced today.
There have now been 4,687 Covid-19 related deaths and 235,854 confirmed cases since the outbreak,
Of the cases notified today: 202 are men and 209 are women; 70 per cent are under 45 years of age; the median age is 35 years old; 150 in Dublin, 31 in Donegal, 25 in Kildare, 25 in Wexford, 21 in Offaly and the remaining 159 cases are spread across 17 other counties.
Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “Together with all of the basic public health measures with which we are all now so familiar, vaccination will significantly reduce risk of Covid-19 over the next relatively short period of time.
“It will radically reduce mortality when those over 70 are fully vaccinated but will initially have a smaller effect on hospitalisation and critical care until the wider adult population, especially vulnerable adults and those aged 50-69 years, are protected by vaccination.
“There is a critical window over the next 8 weeks where any significant increase in close contact is likely to lead to a significant fourth wave of infection in the range of that experienced in January 2021.
“We can and should be optimistic for an enjoyable summer ahead but, in the meantime, we have to continue to work together to prevent a further wave of infection as we accelerate vaccination across society and maintain our health services.”
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