The Department of Health has confirmed 4,607 new cases of Covid-19, here in the Republic of Ireland, in the previous 24 hours.
There remain 579 people in hospital with the virus today, an increase of 13 on yesterday’s reported figures and of these there are 115 in ICU, which is down 2 on yesterday.
With 43 deaths confirmed nationally in the past week; here in Co. Tipperary 150 new cases have been confirmed within the past 14 days,
The promised new system of antigen testing for asymptomatic close contacts of Covid-19 has begun in the Irish Republic’s primary schools. Under the system, antigen tests will be made available to primary school children when a child in their ‘pod’ has a positive PCR test for the virus. Antigen testing will be offered to a full class when two or more confirmed cases of Covid-19 occur in the class within a seven-day period and outside of a single pod.
The Irish Government has dropped plans to provide cheaper antigen tests, possibly based on the strong advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet). The Minister for Health, Mr Stephen Donnelly, has stated that the price of antigen tests has now fallen in shops and supermarkets to a more affordable level.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the new Covid-19 Omicron variant, first discovered in southern Africa, now poses a very high risk globally, despite uncertainties about the danger and contagion levels of this new worrying strain. However to date, no deaths connected with the Omicron variant have as yet been reported.
The Scottish government has confirmed 6 cases of the Covid-19 Omicron variant. Meanwhile, the Government in the Republic has confirmed that 11 positive tests for Covid-19 are being further examined today in an effort to identify whether or not they are in fact this same new Omicron variant.
In Northern Ireland, today a further 1,464 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the previous 24 hours, up from 1,405 cases reported yesterday.
There remain 340 Covid patients in northern hospitals 30 on Friday’s figures, with 28 people being treated in intensive care units (ICU’s), down 5 since Friday.
Sadly, 4 further Covid-19-related deaths have also been reported in Northern Ireland, bringing their total number of deaths, linked to Covid-19, since the start of the pandemic to 2,873.
Continue to listen to science and do keep yourself and your family safe by regularly washing your hands; wearing a mask when appropriate, and cut down on unnecessary social contacts.
Leave a Reply