WEXFORD SEES 42 NEW CASES IN FIVE DAYS
WHILE Wexford remains towards the bottom of the table in terms of confirmed cases of Covid-19 per head of population, this week saw a sharp increase in cases across the model county putting us towards the top of the table for percentage increase per capita and daily increases per capita.
On Tuesday of last week, Wexford had just 56 confirmed cases of the virus, however, by Sunday night this had increased to 98.
Twice in the past week, the rise in confirmed cases has hit double figures with Thursday seeing a rise of 10 and Sunday a rise of 13 – our highest yet. Meanwhile, Saturday wasn’t far behind with 9. Part of the reason being put forward for the increase is that test results are now returning at a much quicker rate and, as a result of this, perhaps some kind of spike was inevitable.
Sunday’s rise of 13 was the largest increase per capita of any county in Ireland in that 24 hour period. The model county was also topping the three day average in terms of percentage increase in cases.
In terms of Wexford General Hospital, the latest HSE data shows that as of 8 p.m. on Sunday evening, there were five confirmed cases on site at the hospital, while seven suspected cases were awaiting test results. In the intensive care unit (ICU), there was one confirmed case of the virus, while there was also one suspected case.
According to the data, this leaves Wexford with 12 vacant Covid-19 beds, following the addition of a second Covid ward in recent weeks, and a total of four vacant critical care beds. Work, however, has also been visibly ongoing at Ely House in Ardcavan over the past week in a bid to install a further Covid-19 overflow ward on the third floor should it be required in the coming weeks.
While inevitably, the longer the situation continues the more difficult it is to keep our distance from loved ones and avoid unnecessary contact with others, people are being asked to put in a renewed effort in the coming weeks as we seek to reverse the worrying trend of the past few days.