A further 29 deaths due to Covid-19 have been reported by the Department of Health today. The national toll due to this pandemic now stands at 1,403 deaths.
In Galway, 5 new cases of Covid-19 have been reported, one less than on Wednesday, bringing the total in the county to 380.
The county remains at the lower end of the scale nationally, still accounting for just 1.8% of infections nationwide.
Nationwide the Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been notified of 137 new cases of Covid-19, meaning there are now 22,385 confirmed cases in Ireland.
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Office at the Department of Health, said that the country has achieved its goal of “suppressing the disease”, with the virus’ reproduction rate now standing at between 0.5 and 0.6.
“It was not easy for anyone but there is no question that our collective effort has saved lives.”
“Now we look to the pattern of COVID-19 going forward, as we attempt to ease restrictions.
“These weeks are just as important as the first weeks of our response. Our behaviours are crucial in maintaining our progress and keeping the reproduction number below 1.”
The data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Tuesday, May 5 (22,186 cases), reveals:
- 57% are female and 43% are male
- The median age of confirmed cases is 49 years
- 2,891 cases (13%) have been hospitalised
- Of those hospitalised, 376 cases have been admitted to ICU
- 6,498 cases are associated with healthcare workers
- Dublin has the highest number of cases at 10,840 (49% of all cases) followed by Kildare with 1,302 cases (6%) and then Cork with 1,197 cases (5%)
- Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 62%, close contact accounts for 35%, travel abroad accounts for 3%
Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Modelling Advisory Group, said; “The number of ICU admissions, new cases and deaths is now falling and has been for over a week.”
“This is driven by a reduction of transmission of the virus in the community and reinforces the importance of our behaviours going forward.”
