12 cases of Covid-19 in Sligo

THERE are currently 12 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Sligo with less than five admissions to Sligo University Hospital due to the virus.

The latest figures valid on Sunday night revealed that 10 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ireland in the previous 24 hour period had died, 8 male and 2 female.

Six deaths occurred in the east of the country, three in the northwest of the country and one in the south. The median age of Sunday’s reported deaths was 77.

There have now been 46 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland [Sunday’s figures]. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre was informed of 200 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland, as at 1pm, Sunday making a total of 2,615 confirmed cases in the country.

The data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Friday 27 March (2,216 cases), reveals:

· 51% are male and 48% are female, with 103 clusters involving 379 cases

· the median age of confirmed cases is 47 years

· 564 cases (26%) have been hospitalised · of those hospitalised, 77 cases have been admitted to ICU

· 506 cases are associated with healthcare workers

· Dublin has the highest number of cases at 1,233 (56% of all cases) followed by Cork with 208 cases (9%)

· of those for whom transmission status is known, community transmission accounts for 51%, close contact accounts for 24%, travel abroad accounts for 25%

Meanwhile, many people waiting on Covid-19 testing many not be called after new criteria had been implemented.

From Wednesday last week patients will have to display two major symptoms - a fever and either a cough or shortness of breath - and fall into a priority group in order to be tested.

Groups being deemed as priority include: Anyone who has been in close contact with a confirmed case; Healthcare staff that are fighting to help patients on the frontline; Vulnerable groups of people - including those with underlying health conditions.

Since Friday night new restrictions on the movement of people was introduced by the Government.

Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar said everybody must stay at home except in specific circumstances.

These include travel to and from work for essential work that cannot be done from home; to shop for food, household goods or collect a meal; to attend medical appointments, collect medicines and other health products. Other exemptions include farming, the care of animals and leaving home for vital family reasons such as providing care for the elderly or vulnerable.

Mr Varadkar also said that people can leave their home for brief physical exercise, but only within 2km of their home.

Those over 70 must cocoon themselves at home. He announced that during the two-week period to Easter Sunday, all public or private gatherings of any number of people outside a single household or living unit are prohibited, including social family visits that are not for vital reasons already mentioned.