54% of Ireland’s 1,403 COVID-19 deaths have been nursing home residents while latest data has revealed there to be 29 further deaths and 137 new cases in the country with Co Clare recording its highest increase of cases in the space of 24 hours.
Following confirmation from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre that 29 more individuals with COVID-19 have died, there have been 1,403 deaths related to the virus in the Republic of Ireland.
Since the outbreak of the virus, there have been 22,385 confirmed cases. The HPSC has been made aware of 137 new cases since 11am today (Thursday).
27 extra cases have been notified in Co Clare. It brings the total to 281 and represents the biggest daily increase in the county to date. The increase is believed to be linked with extra testing carried out in a South-East Clare nursing home. 17 cases have been de-notified in Limerick, it is unclear if they have been now attributed to Co Clare. The daily increase in the county was the third highest of all cases by county from Monday to Tuesday, only Dublin and Westmeath recorded more diagnoses.
No new admissions were recorded in intensive care units across the country in 24 hours, Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan confirmed. To date, 377 individuals have been admitted to ICUs, 76 currently remain there.
There have been 406 clusters in long-term residential care facilities and nursing homes, an increase of six and three respectively. 4,309 of the 5,548 cases in long-term residential care facilities are in nursing homes which is an increase of 41. 761 nursing home residents have died as a result of the virus which equates to 54.2% of the country’s total, a further 119 people who are living in long-term residential care facilities have died.
As of midnight on Tuesday, there were 6,473 confirmed cases among healthcare workers, an increase of 398 in the space of seven days. The breakdown of these by occupation are, nurses (33%), healthcare assistants (25%), allied health professionals (23%), doctors (6.5%) and porters (1.1%).
239 of the healthcare cases were hospitalised, 38 admitted to ICU and five have died, there have been no increase in the amount of deaths associated with healthcare workers. The median age of confirmed cases is 49 in this sector with 73% of cases women and 27% men.
Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, Phillip Nolan noted that there had been “considerable progress” in the past week with regard to reducing the amount of cases. He stated there was a “significant reduction” in the number of people in hospitals and hospital admissions. As of Thursday morning, he said there were 614 people on HSE acute sites.
Nolan highlighted the average number of people in ICUs has fallen each day. At the height of COVID-19, the figure was 140, it dropped to a little over 100 last week and was 76 as of Thursday morning.
He added, “The number of new cases per day is declining” at close to 10% per day. He believed “all of the indicators show that the suppression measures from 28th of March have been very effective”.
