85 new COVID-19 cases reported in Ireland
There have been 85 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Ireland today.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has also been informed that one patient diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ireland has died.
There has now been a total of 1,763 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.
As of midnight Wednesday, July 29, there had been now a total of 26,027 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.
Of the cases notified today;
53 cases are men/32 are women
68% are under 45 years of age
26 cases are located in Kildare, 18 in Dublin, 11 in Clare, 9 in Laois, 7 in Limerick, 4 in Meath and the remainder are spread across 7 other counties.
39% of today’s cases are associated with close contacts of a confirmed case
Half are associated with outbreaks - with Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn stating that that 18 of the cases are associated with a cluster at a factory in Kildare. The factory is closed and outbreak control teams are in place.
He said these cases are also associated with clusters in direct provision centres.
Offaly had no new cases and remains at 487.
The county breakdown relates to midnight, Tuesday, so does not take into account the 85 new cases reported today.
Dr Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “Today’s figures demonstrate how quickly COVID-19 can remerge in our country.
“We are now at a crucial point in our response to COVID-19. Over the coming days it is vital that everyone continues to avoid large crowds, physically distance, wear face coverings where appropriate and wash hands regularly.
“COVID-19 is extremely infectious and no one is immune. Follow public health advice and stay vigilant.”
Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said; “Over a two-day period Ireland moved from a relatively stable epidemiology to a significant pattern connected to outbreaks. We now need to be really careful and adhere to public health advice so we do not further spread the virus. We must remain vigilant to the disease if we are to control it at this point.”
Dr Siobhan Ni Bhriain, Consultant Psychiatrist and Integrated Care Lead, HSE; “In order to maintain health services in areas outside of COVID-19, suppression of the disease in the community is paramount. By protecting yourself from the disease you are contributing to a patient’s ability to access other services. Protect our health service by following public health advice and stay safe from COVID-19.”