There have been 1,491 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed by the Department of Health in the Irish Republic. There are 193 people in our hospitals who have tested positive for the virus, of whom 28 are in ICU’s.
In Northern Ireland, there were 1,641 new infections reported with, sadly, 3 further deaths.
These figures bring to 3,132 the number of new Covid-19 cases on the island of Ireland in the past 24 hours, an increase of 778 on reported case numbers yesterday.
A ‘Walk-in Covid-19 vaccination clinic’ will open again in Nenagh Co. Tipperary this weekend, at the Abbey Court Hotel, beginning tomorrow Friday (August 6th) from 2:00-7:00pm, and on Sunday (August 7th) from 2:00pm-7:00pm. Anybody over 16 years old, seeking their first vaccine, can avail of a Pfizer jab but must attend with their PPS number and a photo ID in order to register. For further information visit: https://vaccine.hse.ie/
According to Professor Brian MacCraith (Covid-19 Vaccination Task Force), Ireland will have six million doses administered, with 75% of adults fully protected from the virus.
An Taoiseach Mr Micheál Martin has advised that masks may have to be worn while attending indoors events, until Christmas. He warned that Ireland is not out of the woods with Covid yet and that our nation must brace itself for a potentially lethal combination of both flu and the Covid virus this winter. He repeated the warning that there would be no ‘Freedom Day’ akin to what happened in the UK, when all restrictions were lifted last month. All persons in the state could face a scenario of having to get a Covid jab every year, something akin to the current flu vaccine, Mr Martin further stated.
Meanwhile, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said registration for a Covid-19 vaccine for children and teenagers, aged 12-15 years should open next Thursday. The minister said: “I’m encouraging parents and these young people to seek information from reliable sources such as the HSE website”.
In July last, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee recommended that all children aged 12 to 15 should be offered an mRNA vaccine.
VERY SAD NEWS.