*Testing in Shannon. Photograph: Sean Curtin / True Media
Clare’s fourteen incidence rate per 100k of the population remains among the lowest in Ireland while eight new cases of COVID-19 are known within the county.
It is the eighth day in succession where a single figure daily increase of COVID-19 cases has been attributed to Co Clare.
On Saturday evening, the Department of Health announced 456 additional cases. Of these, 151 are in Dublin, 38 in Limerick, 27 in Cork, 27 in Donegal, 27 in Galway and the remaining 186 cases are spread across 20 other counties including the 8 in Clare.
With a fourteen day incidence rate per 100k of the population of 102.7, Co Clare’s figure remains among the lowest in the Republic of Ireland. The national figure is 130.2 while only seven counties have a lower rate than Clare.
Six new deaths have been notified to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), all of which occurred this month. It brings the national death toll to 1,978.
Several wards at Ennis Hospital and University Hospital Limerick remain closed due to outbreaks of the virus. Hospital data from across the country noted 11 hospitalisations related to the virus in the past 24 hours. As of 2pm on Saturday, 254 persons were being treated for Coronavirus in Irish hospitals, 32 of which are in ICUs.
Speaking on Saturday, the Chief Medical Officer said the five day moving average of case numbers has increased from 354 to 392. “We have seen higher numbers in recent days than we expected based on the encouraging trends of the last three weeks. We are concerned that this progress is at risk. We have to remember that the virus is still very active in the community and we cannot let our guard slip,” Dr Tony Holohan stated.
