Covid in Ireland: Quarter of new cases among those aged 75-84

Almost a quarter of confirmed Covid cases last week were among people aged 75 to 84 years old, according to official figures from the infectious diseases watchdog.

Latest figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), published on Thursday, shows there has been a decrease in outbreaks of the virus when compared to the previous week.

Last week, there were 732 confirmed cases of Covid, up 13.7 per cent when compared to the 644 cases in the preceding week.

Some 53 per cent of cases last week were among women, while, with the remaining 47 per cent among men.

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The highest number of new confirmed cases last week was in those aged 75 to 84, who accounted for 24 per cent of notified cases. Cases were confirmed among all age groups, ranging from 0 to 102 years old.

A total of 392 hospitalised confirmed Covid-19 cases were recorded last week, representing more than half of confirmed cases. However, no patients with Covid were admitted to intensive care during this time.

Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a total of 9,148 Covid-19 deaths among confirmed cases. Of those, one had a date of death last week.

There were also 49 outbreaks of the virus last week, a decrease on the 56 during the previous week.

Of those 49, 24 were in acute hospitals, 10 were in nursing homes, four were in community hospitals or long stay units, eight were in residential institutions and three were associated with other healthcare services.

The number of hospital outbreaks has increased incrementally in recent weeks, rising from six four weeks ago, to 12, to 22, before reaching 24 last week.

The HSE last week confirmed the new Covid variant, named Eris, which is a derivative of the Omicron variant, had been detected in Ireland and that it was “more transmissible” than previous circulating variants and has been associated with outbreaks, including in hospitals, “in Ireland and elsewhere”.

“There is currently no evidence of increased clinical severity of infection but people are still advised to follow Covid-19 prevention measures,” a HSE spokesman said.

On Thursday, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) classified Eris as a variant of concern.

The ECDC said it is “likely” the variant will contribute to “increased transmission in the coming weeks. However, it is unlikely that the levels will reach those of previous peaks observed during the Covid-19 pandemic”.

The body added it is also unlikely the variants are “associated with any increase in infection severity compared to previously circulating variants, or reduction in vaccine effectiveness against severe disease”.

Speaking last week, Dr Colm Henry, chief clinical officer at the Health Service Executive, said a vaccine booster programme was being planned for the autumn, in conjunction with the flu vaccine programme.

The Covid vaccine will be aimed at those aged 50 or older, individuals with a compromised immune system aged five and above, people with medical conditions that place them at a higher risk of a serious illness from Covid-19, and healthcare workers.