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Press release

Statement from the National Public Health Emergency Team - Wednesday 16 December


The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 6 additional deaths related to COVID-19.

There has been a total of 2,140 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of midnight Tuesday 15 December, the HPSC has been notified of 431 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There has now been a total of 77,197 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

Of the cases notified today:

  • 185 are men and 244 are women
  • 67% are under 45 years of age
  • the median age is 35 years old
  • 134 in Dublin, 53 in Donegal, 25 in Cavan, 24 in Louth, 22 in Mayo, and the remaining 173 cases are spread across all other remaining counties

As of 2pm today, 207 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 30 are in ICU. There have been 22 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

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

"We are seeing significant and concerning indicators that this disease in moving in the wrong direction, including an increase in positivity rates, and 7 day and 14 day incidence, and our 5 day average has now increased to 339 cases. Recent international experience has demonstrated just how quickly this disease can get out of control.

"These trends are all the more troubling because of the delicate and precarious situation we are in - as a country, we are heading into a period of potential widespread inter-household and inter-generational mixing. This is an ideal opportunity for the virus to spread and impact on those most vulnerable to its severest effects. Don’t give COVID-19 this chance: limit your contacts, prioritise who you meet, and let’s remain vigilant so we can get through this together. NPHET will meet tomorrow to review the epidemiological situation."

The COVID-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of COVID-19 in the community.

ENDS

Today’s cases, 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 population and new cases in last 14 days (as of midnight 15 December 2020) (incidence rate based on Census 2016 county population)

County
Today’s Cases (to midnight 15/12/20)
14-Day incidence rate per 100,000 population (14 days to midnight 15/12/20)
New Cases during last 14 days (14 days to midnight 15/12/20)
Ireland
431
87.9
4,185
Donegal
53
245.6
391
Louth
24
201.7
260
Kilkenny
15
197.5
196
Carlow
<5
156.3
89
Cavan
25
147
112
Longford
<5
137
56
Monaghan
7
136.8
84
Limerick
13
122.6
239
Laois
13
113.3
96
Mayo
22
105
137
Dublin
134
97.7
1,316
Wicklow
<5
82.1
117
Waterford
<5
79.2
92
Offaly
8
78.2
61
Kildare
17
67.9
151
Tipperary
<5
67.7
108
Meath
12
65.6
128
Wexford
15
56.8
85
Sligo
<5
50.4
33
Galway
9
50
129
Kerry
17
42
62
Roscommon
<5
38.7
25
Westmeath
<5
34.9
31
Leitrim
<5
28.1
9
Cork
18
27.6
150
Clare
<5
23.6
28

Note:

The 5 day moving average of cases is 339.

The 7 day incidence rate is 48.7 per 100,000 of population.

Hospital statistics

Total number of cases
76,766
Total number hospitalised
5,489
Total number admitted to ICU
649
Total number of deaths
1,880
Total number of healthcare workers
12,590
Number clusters notified
10,207
Cases associated with clusters
42,692
Median age
39
  • All statistics measured at midnight on Monday 14 December.

Gender of patients

Gender
Number of cases
Male
36,202
Female
40,527
Unknown
37
Total
76,766
  • All statistics measured at midnight on Monday 14 December.

Age range affected

Age range
Number of cases
0 - 4
2,046
5 - 14
5,138
15 - 24
13,347
25 - 34
12,878
35 - 44
12,048
45 - 54
11,566
55 - 64
8,159
65 - 74
4,381
75 - 84
3,840
85+
3,335
Unknown
28
  • All statistics measured at midnight on Monday 14 December.

How COVID-19 is spreading

Transmission classification
%
Community transmission
29.9
Close contact with confirmed case
67.7
Travel abroad
1.4
Unknown
1
  • All statistics measured at midnight on Monday 14 December.

Note:

When a person tests positive for COVID-19 but 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
0 - 4
58
5 - 14
52
15 - 24
182
25 - 34
343
35 - 44
430
45 - 54
685
55 - 64
788
65 - 74
996
75 - 84
1,213
85+
740
Unknown
2
  • All statistics measured at midnight on Monday 14 December.

Cases by county

County
Number of cases
Change since the day before
Carlow
735
+6
Cavan
2,279
+11
Clare
1,530
+1
Cork
6,538
+9
Donegal
3,353
+33
Dublin
28,394
+75
Galway
2,808
+4
Kerry
1,387
+8
Kildare
4,244
+17
Kilkenny
1,235
+12
Laois
1,078
+5
Leitrim
273
No change
Limerick
3,044
+23
Longford
710
+1
Louth
2,400
+41
Mayo
1,595
+9
Meath
3,527
+10
Monaghan
1,332
+12
Offaly
1,222
+6
Roscommon
976
+2
Sligo
778
+2
Tipperary
1,648
+4
Waterford
1,134
+5
Westmeath
1,572
+8
Wexford
1,279
+12
Wicklow
1,695
+3
  • All statistics measured at midnight on Monday 14 December.

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