Health officials have reported no further deaths related to COVID-19 today and 575 new cases in the Republic – of which 30 are in Galway.
Galway’s 14-day incidence rate now stands at 115.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, with 299 cases confirmed in the county over the past fortnight.
73% of today’s reported cases are under 45 years of age and the median age is 30 years old.
As of 8am today, there are 360 people with COVID-19 in hospitals across the State, of which 85 are in ICU. There have been 25 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer said that while there has been a very understandable focus on the vaccine programme over recent days, we must not lose sight of the danger that COVID-19 continues to pose.
“While, in time, vaccines will have a very significant positive impact on COVID, they will not stop a further wave of disease over the coming weeks,” said the Deputy CMO.
“We are seeing this play out across Europe with many countries now experiencing pressure on their hospital and critical care capacities. We must not let this happen here.
He said that together, people have done an extraordinary job of driving down incidence of disease.
“These efforts are cause for real hope and, if we can return to decreasing indicators of disease, we can continue to protect our loved ones and look forward to much brighter days ahead.”
