*Photograph: Sean Curtin / True Media
Medics are observing a continued improvement on COVID-19 hospital numbers while 11 new cases of the virus have been reported in Clare.
Clare has recorded an additional 11 cases of COVID-19, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) stated on Saturday evening.
149.8 is the county’s 14 day incidence rate in Clare which is the ninth lowest figure in the country, Clare had until yesterday the eighth lowest incidence rate.
Across the country, there are 738 new cases diagnosed. 311 are in Dublin, 54 in Limerick, 36 in Cork, 34 in Offaly, 33 in Donegal and the remaining 270 cases are spread across 20 other counties. The country’s 7 day incidence rate is at its lowest since December 22nd as it is now 97.3.
NPHET have stated 13 more persons have died as a result of the virus. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) said 10 of these deaths occurred in February, 1 occurred in January, 1 occurred in October and 1 date of death remains under investigation. The median age of those who died was 81 years and the age range was 55 – 92 years. There has been a total of 4,313 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.
391,355 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland as of Wednesday. 254,948 people have received their first dose and 136,407 people have received their second dose.
CEO of the HSE, Paul Reid detailed that there has been “continued improvement” in hospital figures. Data from 8am on Saturday noted that 550 persons are hospitalised because of the virus, 135 are which in ICU. There have been 27 hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
“Our healthcare teams are exhausted. But getting their vaccination & the great signs of it reducing transmission is giving us all a second wind,” Reid commented on Saturday. He added, “We are winning, it’s just not over yet”.
