Seven new COVID-19 cases in Donegal as 77 more people die

77 more people have died in the Republic of ireland after getting Covid-19 – the highest number in a single day.
The death toll across the Republic now stands at 687.
401 new cases have been detected here, bringing the total number of positive tests to 15,652.
In Donegal, seven more cases have been confirmed, bringing the total number in the county to 383.
Dr Tony Holohan, the State’s Chief Medical Officer has been giving details about the 687 people who have lost their lives………

Statement in full –
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that 77 people diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ireland have died.
·        67 deaths located in the east, 4 in the west, 4 in the north-west and 2 in the south of the country
·        the people included 32 males and 44 females – 1 not specified
·        the median age of today’s reported deaths is 84
·        54 people were reported as having underlying health conditions
There have now been 687 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.
As of 1pm Monday 20^th April, the HPSC has been notified of an additional 401 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported by Irish laboratories.
There is now a total of 15,652 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.
The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread.
Today’s data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Saturday 18^th April (15,185 cases), reveals:
·        56% are female and 44% are male, with 478 clusters involving 3,139 cases
·        the median age of confirmed cases is 48 years
·        2,272 cases (15%) have been hospitalised
·        Of those hospitalised, 306 cases have been admitted to ICU
·        4,009 cases are associated with healthcare workers
·        Dublin has the highest number of cases at 7,666 (51% of all cases) followed by Cork with 1,047 cases (7%)
·        Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 62%, close contact accounts for 34%, travel abroad accounts for 4%
Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “Nursing homes and long-term residential facilities are a testing priority.
“In facilities with an existing cluster, all residents and staff are to be tested. In the event of a facility reporting its first case, testing of all staff and residents will take place.
 “This sector remains a priority for NPHET, along with other vulnerable persons, and we will continue to implement supports and guidance on infection prevention control where required.”
Dr Kathleen Mac Lellan, Assistant Secretary Department of Health and Chair of NPHET Vulnerable People Subgroup, said; “There are 18 COVID-19 response teams across the country, each one led by senior nursing support, assisting nursing homes and long-term residential facilities. These teams have senior clinical expertise, infection prevention and control and public health input in preventing and managing clusters.”  
Dr Siobhan Kennelly, HSE National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead for Older Persons, said; “There has been an ongoing process of engagement and support with the nursing home sector since the start of February.
 “We know from international and domestic experience that this disease disproportionately targets vulnerable groups such as older people and those with underlying health conditions. But we also know that the Irish experience in relation to deaths in nursing homes is not an outlier in relation to the European experience.
“We continue in our efforts to support our population through this pandemic.”
Dr. Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “Today marks the start of European Immunisation Week. In combatting the spread of COVID-19 we must not forget the impact that other infectious diseases can have on our communities.
“Vaccines have saved more lives and prevented more serious diseases – like measles and meningitis – than any advance in recent medical history.
“If your baby is due a routine immunisation, please phone your GP practice and arrange for them to be seen. The national immunisation programme is continuing during the COVID-19 outbreak and is vital to protect individual babies and to avoid outbreaks of vaccine-preventable disease.”
Department of Health’s COVID-19 Information Dashboard; providing latest case information.