*Photograph: John Mangan
Clare’s 14 day incidence rate of COVID-19 remains the ninth lowest in the country while a provisional 15 new cases are known in the county among the 1,254 nationally and 48 extra deaths have been recorded.
On Friday evening, the National Public Health Emergency Team announced there to be 1,254 new cases across the country. 437 are in Dublin, 146 in Cork, 76 in Meath, 69 in Wexford, 62 in Kildare and the remaining 464 cases are spread across all other counties.
Of this tally, 15 are in Co Clare. The county’s 14 day incidence rate per 100k of the population now stands at 377.9.
An additional 48 deaths related to the virus are known across the country, 45 of these occurred in the month of January. The median age of those who died is 82 years and the age range is 30-99 years. Since the outbreak of the virus, 3,214 people have died in the Republic of Ireland.
Data from 2pm on Friday has highlighted that 211 persons are receiving critical care for COVID-19, they are included in the figure of 1,518 persons in hospital. 51 hospitalisations were noted in the past 24 hours.
CEO of the HSE, Paul Reid stated that “some early signs of minor relief” have been witnessed with regards to hospital numbers. “However our health system remains under relentless strain. Many very sick and vulnerable people will need care for some time. Our ICUs remain too close to a tipping point. Please continue to hold our guard,” he stated.
Testing of close contacts has resumed today (Friday).
Earlier on Friday, the European Medicines Agency approved the use of the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine for all ages over 18.
