Covid-19 Update: Wed. 30th Dec. 2020 – 13 Deaths – 1,718 New Cases

The Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tony Holohan, has stated that every individual in Ireland should consider themselves potentially infectious.

The Department of Health have confirmed this evening that there have sadly been 13 further death caused by the Covid-19 pandemic; leaving the overall death toll, here in the Republic of Ireland, remaining at 2,226.

There are 1,718 new additional virus cases reported today, leaving the current total number of confirmed cases, since conception in the Irish Republic, at 90,157.

Of today’s cases; 358 are in Dublin, with 164 in Cork, 155 in Louth, 150 in Donegal, and 112 in Galway, with the remaining 779 cases located across all other counties.

Further data relevant up to midnight on Monday, December 28th last confirms that Tipperary has had 1,810 cases of the virus to date; an increase of 12 over the previous 24 hours.

An Taoiseach Mr Micheál Martin has confirmed that the Republic of Ireland will move to full Level 5 restrictions in an attempt to get the latest surge of Covid-19 cases under control.

All schools will remain closed until at least January 11th, under this revised plan, as will a ban on all household visits together with the closure of non-essential retail outlets. A 5km limit on travel will also come into force.

The HSE has stated they have seen a 41% rise in the demand for Covid-19 testing, with 63,000 referrals seen over the past week. They expect to see that number double next week, as the virus cases sharply increase, particularly among the 21-30 age group and the 31-40 age group latter which accounted for 18.5% of all testing referrals. Most of the worst concerns from before Christmas have now been fully realised.

Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, sadly, a further 6 deaths have been reported by their Department of Health. Alarmingly, a further 2,143 new cases have been confirmed as positive.

Total global cases up to 5.30pm this evening, now stand at well over 82 million, with global deaths at almost 1.8 million.

Remember: “Only YOU can stop the chain of transmission.”