Number of Covid-19 infections confirmed by PCR test increased by 30% last week

The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases increased by almost a third last week, according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).

In the week from July 3rd to 9th, 16,792 infections were detected using PCR tests, up from 12,789 the previous week. The total does not include infections confirmed using antigen tests.

People aged 35 to 44 years accounted for 20.7 per cent of these cases, with 18.4 per cent among 25- to 34-year-olds, 18 per cent among the 45 to 54 age group, and 14.7 per cent among people aged 55 to 64.

By county, Laois was hardest hit, with 493.5 cases per 100,000 of population, followed by Waterford (485.5) and Carlow (458.4). Monaghan (203.6), Mayo (224.5) and Cavan (253.4) were the least affected.

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The figures show that 38 children aged four and younger were hospitalised last week with Covid-19, some 10 per cent of the total number. More than 70 per cent of admissions were among people aged 75 and over.

There were 116 outbreaks notified last week, up 18 on the previous week. Of these, 39 were in residential institutions, 30 were in acute hospitals and 27 were in nursing homes. There were three outbreaks in schools, three in private houses occupied by Travellers and two related to travel.

Anthony Staines, professor of health systems at Dublin City University, said he could see the health service “not coping” in the autumn if a further wave of the virus clashes with the onset of seasonal flu.

“The health service is already worn out, with queues stretching out the door, down the street and around the corner,” he said.

There were 981 patients in hospitals with Covid-19 on Thursday morning, including 43 people in intensive care.

Prof Staines said people who have not been vaccinated against the disease are “heavily over-represented” among the hospital admissions.

Children, immigrant populations and pregnant women – who are among those with lower uptake of the vaccine – should be targeted in a community-led public health drive, he said.

Dr Colm Henry, HSE chief clinical officer, said healthcare systems across Europe were concerned at the higher than expected levels of influenza being seen in Australia at present as these trends are usually replicated the following winter in the northern hemisphere.

Speaking on Newstalk, he said half the people in hospital with Covid-19 were sick with the disease and the other half tested positive while being treated for other ailments. He said of the older people in hospital with Covid-19, half had not received a booster dose and one third had never been vaccinated.

Prof Staines said there was “no reason” why Ireland should not follow this week’s advice from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Medicines Agency to offer second boosters to people aged 60-65.

Currently, only those aged over 65 or those with a weak immune system are eligible for a second booster vaccine in the State and further advice on boosters is being awaited from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee.

Meanwhile, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed it is expanding its use of an anti-viral drug because of the high levels of community transmission of the disease. Until now, Paxlovid was only administered to those at highest risk from Covid-19, usually in the early stages of the illness.

The HSE’s Covid-19 therapeutic advisory group has recommended changes to how it is used in Ireland, meaning that more people can be given the drug by a GP or in hospital. These will include over 75s who have been vaccinated and over 65s who have been vaccinated and have obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease or chronic lung disease.