Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Coronavirus: 3,578 new cases confirmed in Ireland

The Department of Health confirmed the figures today.

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS have confirmed 3,578 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.

As of 8am today, 520 people are in hospital with the coronavirus disease, of whom 83 are in intensive care units.

Yesterday, 3,161 new cases of the illness were reported. A total of 498 people were in hospital with the illness, including 78 in ICU.

“We have reported over 44,000 cases in the past 14 days. The volume of disease in the community is really very high and represents a significant risk to those who are most vulnerable in our society,” Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said.

“We need to continue to use all of the tools available to us to protect ourselves and others. By layering all of the public health measures with which we are now so familiar, we can help to break the chains of transmission.

“Ensure that you are washing your hands regularly, wearing a mask on public transport and in other social settings, try to meet others outdoors and ensure that indoor spaces are well-ventilated. And of course it remains essential that anyone with symptoms isolates and gets tested,” Dr Holohan concluded.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin updated Cabinet today on Covid-19, stating that rates across the country are high and have been increasing at a concerning rate, especially in the 19 to 24 age group.

The growth rate of cases is currently estimated at an average of 3.3% a day, he said, though he noted that booster rollout in older age groups will help reduce this.

Outbreaks in settings with vulnerable populations, such as nursing homes, continue to be closely monitored, he added. 

There has been a fall in the ratio of case numbers that translate into hospitalisations from 35 admissions per 1000 cases to 25 in recent weeks, though he said it is too early to know if this is an established trend, or could it be because of case numbers in younger populations and boosters for older age groups.

The Taoiseach said the hospital system is coming under sustained pressure due to Covid-19 and non-Covid admissions.

He said even in optimistic scenarios, numbers in ICU are unlikely to fall below 50 until December at the earliest, and could rise again.

Micheál Martin said the HSE’s Winter Plan has commenced to relieve pressure on hospital admissions through increased diagnostic capacity and with the use of private hospital beds.

To date in 2021, 55,000 bed days in private hospitals have been used, treating 17,500 patients, he said.

Currently, there are 297 permanent baseline critical care beds, up from 255 in early 2020, said the Taoiseach, adding that work is ongoing for another 43 permanent beds.

Cabinet was also told that the demand for testing and tracing remains high, and the Expert Advisory Group on Rapid Antigen Testing in considering the wider roll out of antigen testing, as per a request from NPHET.

In terms of vaccinations, more than 90% of over 12s are now fully vaccinated.

Cabinet was updated on Pfizer’s application to the EMA for approval of a vaccine for children aged 5 to 11, and were told the outcome will not be known for a number of weeks.

In regards to the vaccination programme, the booster campaign for long term residential care facility residents is now substantially complete.

Booster vaccinations for those aged 80 and older living in the community is expected to be close to completion by mid-November, with 129,000 completed to date. 

As of 31 October, an estimated 43,000 people of the 73,000 identified as being immunocompromised had received their booster. The HSE’s operational plan for those aged 60 to 79 is underway.

The 336,000 in the 70 to 79 group will get boosters via a GP, while those aged 60 to 69, around 475,000 people, will be done via vaccination centre by the end of December.

With Christina Finn

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
76 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute in_zane_burger
    Favourite in_zane_burger
    Report
    Apr 2nd 2014, 3:06 PM

    Can I have my money back now

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute padser123
    Favourite padser123
    Report
    Apr 2nd 2014, 3:33 PM

    It’s like’…..burning your furniture – to keep warm!

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Roche
    Favourite Paul Roche
    Report
    Apr 2nd 2014, 4:52 PM

    Why are PwC saying this instead of IBRC and NAMA?

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Philip
    Favourite Philip
    Report
    Apr 2nd 2014, 5:20 PM

    As property prices start to rise nama , ibrc start to dump property

    Can someone explain why?

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dara O'Brien
    Favourite Dara O'Brien
    Report
    Apr 2nd 2014, 5:56 PM

    Dumping loans philip, not property. They’re Dumping the loans as they’re non-performing and want to get them off the balance sheet.

    If they had the patience, they’d put arrangements in place to allow the properties to return to positive equity and then seek a sale, this recouping more of the tax payers money.

    Unfortunately, they’ll sell the loans for a discount and allow the new purchasers to do this and net a tidy profit.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Garry Coll
    Favourite Garry Coll
    Report
    Apr 2nd 2014, 5:02 PM

    The article outlines that IBRC (IBROKE would probably be a better name) will offload € 15 billion in loans.
    Yet the linked article tells us that IBROKE have already offloaded 90% of its loanbook, € 19.8 billion out of € 21.7 billion leaving just € 1.9 billion on hand.
    This can only mean, if the previous article is correct, that it is NAMA that is offloading the majority of the loans.
    Why the subterfuge?
    Why make people think that this is some kind of joint enterprise when it is NAMA that is leading the charge?
    Have the shiny suit brigade from the canal something to hide?
    Given their obsession with secrecy it would not surprise me if they have, perhaps selling the loans to some preferred customer with an inside track at a serious discount.
    The way things go it will all be wrapped up before we know anything, plus ça change.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Irish Revolution
    Favourite Irish Revolution
    Report
    Apr 2nd 2014, 2:58 PM

    Who in their right mind would buy this junk?

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Padraig McHale
    Favourite Padraig McHale
    Report
    Apr 2nd 2014, 3:01 PM

    It might only be worth 30% of face value but if you buy it for 20% it’s a good deal. For the buyer anyway.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony
    Favourite Tony
    Report
    Apr 2nd 2014, 3:06 PM

    @ Irish Revolution

    The Banks?

    14
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deirdre McDonnell
    Favourite Deirdre McDonnell
    Report
    Apr 3rd 2014, 2:42 AM

    Hedge funds bought it. They will now sell off all the ghost estates etc at a lower price so people that have houses for sale at the min will eventually have to sell for half or take them off the market.
    Fab house here in drogheda asking price €325. Hilarious. You could now nearly get a house for that on raglan road or ailsbury road!! So that house is realistically worth less than €150 really.
    People and notions ha

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Vanessa Doyle
    Favourite Vanessa Doyle
    Report
    Apr 2nd 2014, 7:04 PM

    What about Bank of Scotland selling on my mortgage & others in their Irish portfolio to a company called Tanager Ltd.
    I’m in a tizzy all day because I don’t know what it means for us.

    3
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds