Nine further Covid-19 deaths and 37 new cases - NPHET
Nine further deaths have occurred from Covid-19 in the Republic, the National Public Health Emergency Team has reported.
This brings the total of Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic to 1,615.
Meanwhile, there have been 37 new confirmed cases of the virus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 24,735.
The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had, to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread.
Today’s data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), as of midnight, Sunday 24 May (24,629 cases), reveals:
- 57% are female and 43% are male
- The median age of confirmed cases is 48 years
- 3,233 cases (13%) have been hospitalised
- Of those hospitalised, 395 cases have been admitted to ICU
- 7,852 cases are associated with healthcare workers
- Dublin has the highest number of cases at 11,894 (48% of all cases) followed by Cork with 1,440 cases (6%) and then Kildare with 1,395 cases (6%)
- Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 59%, close contact accounts for 38%, travel abroad accounts for 3%
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “As of midnight Monday 25 May, 325,795 tests have been carried out. Over the past week, 30,169 tests were carried out and of these 633 were positive, giving a positivity rate of 2.1%.
“NPHET will meet on Thursday 28th May where further consideration will be given to broadening the case definition.”
Dr Holohan also broke down the occurrence of new cases in at-risk social groupings.
"Among Travellers, we have 18 new cases, bringing the total now to 64. In respect of Direct Provision residents, there have been two new cases, bringing the total to 173 cases now.
"In respect of residents of homelessness facilities, we have five new cases, which brings the total to 25.
"And then in respect of meat processing plants, we have 103 new cases as of Saturday just gone, bringing the total to 925."
Dr Holohan also confirmed that daily press briefings will likely be scaled back, as the numbers infected by the virus continue to decline.
"It'll be part of the assessment that we make toward the end of this week, that we might move back to two weekly press conferences, in the evening, rather than a daily press conference."
