10 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Clare this evening with 462 new cases confirmed nationwide.
Clare’s incidence rate of 146.4 per 100,000 people is the tenth lowest in the country.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 39 additional deaths related to COVID-19.
10 of these deaths occurred in March, 12 occurred in February, 13 in January, and 3 occurred earlier than this. One further death is under investigation.
The median age of those who died was 81 years and the age range was 0 – 97 years.
Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health said: “We have been made aware of four preliminary reports of stillbirths potentially associated with a condition called COVID Placentitis. These reports should be interpreted with caution as the coroners have not yet concluded their findings. The HSEs National Women and Infants Programme is aware of and is monitoring the situation and has issued a related notice to obstetric departments. I would ask that the privacy of all of those affected by this disease continue to be respected at all times.”
Dr Breda Smyth, Director of Public Health, HSE West said: “We have confirmed that more than 200 households have had an outbreak of COVID-19 that are linked back to the outbreak among students. We know that the new variant is more transmissible, and, based on the latest data, approximately a third of household contacts of confirmed cases in Ireland are now testing positive. If you display any symptoms of COVID-19, you must immediately self-isolate in your room and phone your GP.”
“We know how to break the chains of transmission of this disease. We must all continue to make every effort to limit our social contacts, stay home and stay safe.”
Dr Máirín Ryan, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Health Technology Assessment, HIQA, said: “HIQA has today published its advice to NPHET on reducing the minimum age of mask wearing in children. As we know, the evidence points towards face mask use in the community reducing transmission of COVID-19. However, in young children, the benefit of face masks is likely small and may be affected by their reduced ability to comply with face mask wearing.”
