The Department of Health here in the Irish Republic has reported 4,024 PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19 today. A further 10,631 people have registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal, bringing the overall total of cases in the Republic to 14,655.
There have been 63,954 cases reported since St. Patrick’s Day with; beginning Thursday, March 17th, – 5,231 PCR-confirmed cases and 8,322 people registering a positive antigen test through the HSE portal.
On Friday, March 18th, – 5,628 PCR-confirmed cases and 6,313 people registering a positive antigen test through the HSE portal.
On Saturday, March 19th, – 4,787 PCR-confirmed cases and 6,774 people registering a positive antigen test through the HSE portal.
On Sunday, March 20th, – 5,067 PCR-confirmed cases and 7,177 people registering a positive antigen test through the HSE portal.
A fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccine is expected to be approved for use here in the Republic of Ireland, close to the middle of this year; before the winter season sets-in, according to An Tánaiste Mr Leo Varadkar.
The Chief Clinical Officer of the HSE, Dr. Colm Henry has stated that there are now multiple opportunities for the virus to transmit within communities, but the most important preventative measures continues to be vaccination and a booster dose.
Dr. Henry further stated that Limerick Hospital (serving North Tipperary), Dublin’s Mater Hospital and hospitals in Kerry and Letterkenny are today dealing with a significant number of Covid positive patients.
Indeed, due to the very high levels of community covid-19 transmission, University Hospital Limerick, have once again re-introduced visiting restrictions as and from Saturday last.
In Northern Ireland over the past 24 hours, 2,007 cases of coronavirus were reported, up from 1,640 cases on yesterday.
There are 484 people with Covid in northern hospital, down from the figure of 509, last reported on Friday, with 5 patients remaining in intensive care suffering from the virus.
Sadly, 1 further new Covid-19-related death has also been reported in Northern Ireland today; bringing the total number of deaths linked to Covid-19, since the start of the pandemic to 3,274.
Meanwhile, China and Hong Kong are seeing their largest spike in Covid cases in more than 2 years, despite determinedly pursuing one of the world’s strictest virus elimination regulations. China currently has imposed stay-at-home orders on millions more people in the country’s northeast.
More than 10.9 billion doses of coronavirus vaccines have been administered, in at least 197 countries worldwide, up until yesterday, making this is the largest vaccination programme in the worlds history.
Let’s get back to sanitising hands and wearing those masks while out shopping and while in attendance at other public crowded gatherings.
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