Coronavirus: More than 2,000 new cases confirmed

The Department of Health has reported 2,074 new cases of Covid-19. The number of patients being treated in hospital is 229, with 43 in ICU.

The latest figure come after it was revealed that fewer than 10 per cent of people testing positive for coronavirus are using a link sent to them by the Health Service Executive to share details of their close contacts.

Niamh O’Beirne, lead for the HSE’s testing and tracing programme, said about 9.5 per cent of people who had been sent the link via text message – along with their Covid-19 positive result – had clicked it so far, resulting in details for 548 close contacts being uploaded.

The HSE began including the link in text messages this week, with the testing and tracing system near capacity. “Our stated capacity at full contact tracing was 1,500 [positives per day]. We’re now consistently above that,” she said. The service is “busy” but managing and more people using the streamlined process to share close contacts by clicking the link would free up capacity, she said.

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Anyone who tests positive will still receive a phone call and can give their close contacts then if they prefer. However, Ms O’Beirne cautioned that this could slow the system. “Tracing is about speed, if you can do that as quickly as possible. We all know with this disease . . . the faster those contacts know they’re close contacts, the quicker they can get their test and restrict their movements,” she said.

At present some 16.4 per cent of close contacts are testing positive for the virus.

Deputy chief medical officer Ronan Glynn warned on Friday of the rising incidence rate of the disease across the Republic.

“We have reported over 10,000 cases in the last week and, while we have very high incidence across Donegal, Monaghan, Mayo, Galway, Roscommon, Louth and Cavan in particular, incidence is rising across all 26 counties,” said Dr Glynn. “In addition, while incidence is particularly high in those aged 16-29 years, incidence is now rising across all age groups.”

While vaccination has had a positive impact on the number of cases ending up in hospital or critical care, Dr Glynn said the increasing incidence rate will result in a “significant number” of people becoming very ill.

“At the peak of the second wave in October we had 47 people in critical care. Today we have 43, with eight new admissions in the last 24 hours,” he added.

Reid hails vaccine uptake

The HSE said 71,000 children aged 12 to 15 have been registered before the weekend to receive vaccines. Chief executive Paul Reid said Ireland's overall uptake for vaccines had been "phenomenal," with some 80 per cent of adults now fully inoculated and 90 per cent partially vaccinated.

The majority of 12- to 15-year-olds that signed up to receive the vaccine had been registered using the HSE’s online portal, with a small number registered through a HSE call centre.

The cohort started to receive their first doses on Saturday morning. They will receive mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer or Moderna, which require two doses several weeks apart.

Vaccination centres will also open for evening clinics, to facilitate parents bringing children for their vaccines after work.

At least one parent or legal guardian is required to give consent for a child to receive the medicine.