THERE are now 79 confirmed coronavirus cases in Kerry with seven new patients diagnosed today.
Kerry now accounts for 2.2 per cent of all cases in the country.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that 22 additional patients diagnosed with Covid-19 in Ireland have died, with three in the south of the country, 18 in the east and one case in the west.
The fatalities included 11 females and 11 males and 16 patients were reported as having underlying health conditions. The median age of today’s reported deaths is 80.
There have now been 120 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland and the total number of confirmed cases has risen by another 425 to 4,274.
Department of Health Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan, said he is concerned with the number of clusters identified in nursing homes and they have identified a range of measures that need to be taken in association with the HSE.
He stressed, however, that the majority of the nursing homes affected are in the east of the country. There is no suggestion that any such facility in Kerry has been impacted.
“We need to see continuous actions being taken to reduce the risk of transmission in nursing home and long-term residential facilities,” Dr Holohan said.
Facing into the end of week one of the new measures introduced, the Department of Health acknowledged that it has been a tough adjustment for the public but the efforts saved lives.
People have been urged to continue to protect vulnerable groups against this virus by staying home and following public health advice.
Anyone over 70 years of age should remain cocooned as per public health advice and for essential food and prescription shopping, call on family, friends or services to help.
Dr Colm Henry, Clinical Chief Officer with the HSE, said: “Over 70s should not be leaving home. There is now a clear picture of more severe illness in older people”.
He added: “This underlines the importance of our advice on cocooning and requires all of us to support any vulnerable people who find themselves in isolation.”
Today’s data from Health Protection Surveillance Centre reveals:
- 51% are female and 48% are male, with 171 clusters involving 626 cases.
- 1,039 cases (28%) have been hospitalised.
- 148 cases have been admitted to intensive care units.
- 948 cases (26%) are associated with healthcare workers.
- Community transmission accounts for 61%, close contact for 23% and travel abroad for 16%.
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