Health

Coronavirus: 1,124 further cases reported, with 65 in ICU

‘People should not be fearful, but they should be careful,’ says Prof Philip Nolan

Prof Philip Nolan: ‘People should not be fearful, but they should be careful.’ Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Vivienne Clarke
Tue Oct 5 2021 - 16:50

A further 1,124 cases of coronavirus were reported in the State on Tuesday.

According to the latest data, there were 349 people in hospital with the disease, of whom 65 were in ICU.

Prior to the latest figures being released on Tuesday, Prof Philip Nolan of the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) said Ireland will continue to see Covid-19 cases for many months to come, but the country is currently in a "good place".

"People should not be fearful, but they should be careful," said Prof Nolan, speaking on RTÉ Radio's News at One.

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“The risks (from Covid) are very reduced because of vaccination, I see this as a long, slow final phase. Right now we’re in a good place,” he said.

Prof Nolan said there was “quite reasonably some anxiety and concern” ahead of the reopening of schools. “We’ve done really well with the re-opening of schools,” he added.

He said vaccines were highly effective and protective and that there would be a slow, steady decline in case numbers.

“We’re fortunate with our very high level of vaccination and the sensible manner that everyone has taken with precautions seemed to help in suppression of transmission of the virus,” he said.

“If we keep this up we can go about things that are important to us, but do it carefully.”

Prof Nolan said the Delta variant of the disease is prevailing, “and preventing other variants from getting in and this is good news”.

Meanwhile, a further three patients who had previously tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland have died in the last 24 hours.

Another 1,209 cases of the virus were also notified by the Department of Health.

On Tuesday morning, there were 346 Covid-positive patients in hospital, of whom 34 were in intensive care.

A total of 2,536,408 vaccines have been administered in the North in total. Additional reporting: PA

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