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Press release

Statement from the National Public Health Emergency Team - Tuesday 19 May


The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that a total of 16 people with COVID-19 have died.

There have now been a total 1,561* COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of 11am Tuesday 19 May the HPSC has been notified of 51 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 24,251 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

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 HPSC, as of midnight, Sunday 17 May (24,176 cases), reveals:

  • 57% are female and 43% are male
  • the median age of confirmed cases is 48 years
  • 3,143 cases (13%) have been hospitalised
  • of those hospitalised, 390 cases have been admitted to ICU
  • 7,661 cases are associated with healthcare workers
  • Dublin has the highest number of cases at 11,759 (49% of all cases) followed by Kildare with 1,379 cases (6%) and then Cork with 1,372 cases (5%)
  • of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 60%, close contact accounts for 37%, travel abroad accounts for 3%

As of midnight Monday 18 May, 295,626 tests have been carried out.

Over the past week, 36,818 tests were carried out and of these 932 were positive, giving a positivity rate of 2.5%.

Dr. Cillian De Gascun, Chair of the NPHET Expert Advisory Group, said:

"Despite broadening the case definition and increases in referrals the positivity rate has continued to decline. This indicates a consistent suppression of COVID-19 in the community."

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said:

"The National Public Health Emergency Team will meet again this week. Given the decreasing positivity rate and that testing capacity has been expanded, we will be examining the case definition further."

Dr. Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said:

"Today is World Family Doctor Day. GPs continue to play a key role in Ireland’s response to this pandemic. General Practice is open and has continued to be a vital point of access to healthcare for all during this pandemic."

ENDS

  • Validation of data at the HPSC has resulted in the denotification of 2 deaths. The figure of 1,561 deaths reflects this.

Hospital statistics

Total number of cases
24,176
Total number hospitalised
3,143
Total number admitted to ICU
390
Total number of deaths
1,308
Total number of healthcare workers
7,661
Number clusters notified
806
Cases associated with clusters
9,126
Median age
48
  • All statistics measured at midnight on Sunday 17 May.

Gender of patients

Gender
Number of cases
% of total
Female
13,841
57.3
Male
10,296
42.6
Unknown
39
0.2
Total
24,176
  • All statistics measured at midnight on Sunday 17 May.

Age range affected

Age range
Number of cases
% of total
0 - 1
44
0.2
1 - 4
90
0.4
5 - 14
275
1.1
15 - 24
1744
7.2
25 - 34
4066
16.8
35 - 44
4249
17.6
45 - 54
4357
18
55 - 64
3119
12.9
65 - 74
1727
7.1
75 - 84
2205
9.1
85+
2276
9.4
Unknown
24
0.1
  • All statistics measured at midnight on Sunday 17 May.

How COVID-19 is spreading

Community transmission
60%
Close contact with confirmed case
37%
Travel abroad
3%
  • All statistics measured at midnight on Sunday 17 May.

Note:

In the event that a person tests positive for COVID-19 and hasn't been abroad or had contact with another confirmed case in Ireland, that's known as community transmission.

In the event that a person who tests positive for COVID-19 can be linked to another confirmed case in Ireland, that's known as close contact.

Hospitalised cases by age group

Age range
Number of cases
% of total
0 - 4
19
0.6
5 - 14
17
0.5
15 - 24
70
2.2
25 - 34
188
6
35 - 44
248
7.9
45 - 54
422
13.4
55 - 64
463
14.7
65 - 74
553
17.6
75 - 84
708
22.5
85+
453
14.4
Unknown
2
0.1
  • All statistics measured at midnight on Sunday 17 May.

Cases by county

Note: The Health Protection Surveillance Centre have advised that in the process of validating data and reviewing addresses, cases may be reassigned to another county.

County
Number of cases
% of total
Carlow
148
0.6
Cavan
800
3.3
Clare
315
1.3
Cork
1372
5.7
Donegal
477
2
Dublin
11759
48.6
Galway
438
1.8
Kerry
308
1.3
Kildare
1379
5.7
Kilkenny
302
1.2
Laois
254
1.1
Leitrim
80
0.3
Limerick
603
2.5
Longford
279
1.2
Louth
743
3.1
Mayo
556
2.3
Meath
782
3.2
Monaghan
485
2
Offaly
461
1.9
Roscommon
307
1.3
Sligo
129
0.5
Tipperary
525
2.2
Waterford
147
0.6
Westmeath
656
2.7
Wexford
212
0.9
Wicklow
659
2.7
  • All statistics measured at midnight on Sunday 17 May.

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