Coronavirus: 1,144 new cases confirmed, with 384 in hospital

A further 1,144 new coronavirus cases were reported in the State on Monday. The number of patients being treated in hospital was 384, with 59 in intensive care.

Meanwhile, the Republic’s 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 has dropped again, new figures show.

Data collected by the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre shows the national incidence of confirmed cases per 100,000 population now stands at 491.9. The data published on Monday shows the pattern of infections in the two weeks leading up to September 2nd. The incidence rate in the two weeks before that stood at 523.3 cases for every 100,000 people.

The highest incidence rate remains in Donegal and Monaghan, with 1,185 cases and 1.498 cases respectively. The total number of confirmed cases in the last two weeks was 23,422, with a median age of two years. The number of people in hospital with the disease is now 351.

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Earlier, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said the State can continue towards full reopening of society thanks to collective efforts of the public.

While the incidence rate is highest among younger cohorts, the downward trend in infections is “very evident” in younger age groups as they present for vaccinations and adhere to public health measures, said Mr Donnelly on Monday.

“It is thanks to the collective efforts of everyone that we are on a pathway out of this pandemic and we can progress towards the full reopening of society,” he said.

Restrictions

His comments come as further restrictions are lifted from Monday. Larger numbers can attend organised indoor and outdoor events, where all attendees can prove they are “immune” either due to vaccination or because they have recovered from the virus within the previous six months. Live music may commence “having regard to appropriate protective factors”. Religious ceremonies can proceed with 50 people.

However, Mr Donnelly warned that the virus “hasn’t gone away”, and 44 per cent of coronavirus hospitalisations were of people under the age of 50

“The 14-day incidence rates for those aged between 35-44 is similar to that of those aged over 85. One of the issues we have is that unvaccinated people are getting very sick . . . There are also underlying issues such as immunocompromised and hypertension, vaccine status, age and underlying conditions,” he said.

There were 373 people in hospital on Sunday evening, of which 59 were being treated in intensive care. On Sunday a further 1,180 confirmed cases were reported in the State.

The incidence rate is lowest among people aged 65-84, with approximately 250 cases per 100,000 population, according to figures shared by Mr Donnelly. Among the 19-24 group there were 977 cases per 100,000 of this population, while 16to 18-year-olds were not far behind with a rate of 920.

Earlier, HSE chief executive Paul Reid said it was good to see that another 9,500 people availed of walk-in vaccination centres over the weekend. He said it was “positive” that more than half of those who attended were aged between 12 and 15 years of age.

Vaccination rates

Politicians and health officials are banking on the country’s high rates of vaccine take-up as the relaxation of restrictions continues. The majority of controls are due to be lifted by the end of October.

Meanwhile, teachers remain anxious about the virus, despite positivity rates within schools being low, according to general secretary of the Teachers Union of Ireland Michael Gillespie.

Speaking on RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland he said teachers, students and parents need to be vigilant to try to make schools “as safe as possible”.

HSE lead for testing and tracing Niamh O’Beirne said on Sunday that there were 800 schools countrywide in which there was a child who had contracted the virus. Close contacts were now being tested in about 500 primary schools and more than 300 secondary schools. Since schools have only recently opened, she said it is likely that students caught the virus in the community. –Additional reporting PA