Six more dealths related to COVID-19 have been recorded by health officials, who this evening also reported an additional 612 cases of the virus in the state.
Of the new cases, 33 are in Galway – which now has the fifth highest 14-day incidence rate in the country with 278.6 cases per 100,000 people.
A total of 719 cases have been confirmed in the county over the past fortnight.
The median age of the deaths reported today was 63 years and the age range was between 41 and 86 years.
72% of today’s cases are under the age of 45, while the the median age of the new cases is 32 years old.
As of 8am today, 554 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 133 are in ICU. There have been 19 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said that since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Ireland last February, our lives have changed in ways we never thought possible.
“More than 6,300 people on our island have lost their lives with COVID-19. We remember them, and their families and friends, as well as the many people who remain seriously ill or who are dealing with long-term health issues because of this disease,” said the Deputy CMO.
“The response of colleagues across all parts of our health system has been remarkable. We should be extraordinarily proud, and take great heart, from the dedication and resilience which has been – and continues to be – shown by everyone involved in this response.”
Dr Glynn sad that almost all sectors and communities have experienced loss and have been tested in ways unimaginable to us this time last year.
“This pandemic and the public health response to it has had a profound impact on lives and livelihoods,” he said.
“But it has also demonstrated the best of us as a people, working together and buying in as a collective to what has been necessary to protect one another.
“Last Spring, we met the challenge presented to us with collective enthusiasm. Ironically, while that enthusiasm has understandably waned and gone, there are more concrete reasons for hope and optimism now than at any time over the last 12 months.”
