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COVID-19: Three further deaths and 248 new cases in Ireland

There have been 248 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the Republic, according to the Department ...
98FM
98FM

17.26 12 Dec 2020


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COVID-19: Three further deaths...

COVID-19: Three further deaths and 248 new cases in Ireland

98FM
98FM

17.26 12 Dec 2020


Share this article


There have been 248 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the Republic, according to the Department of Health.

There have also been three further deaths associated with the virus in the past 24 hours.

The latest figures bring the total amount of cases here to 75,756, while the number of coronavirus-related deaths stands at 2,123.

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The numbers are reflective of the denotification of one confirmed case of the virus.

Of the latest cases, 67% are under 45 years of age, while the median age is 33 years old.

Regarding the nationwide distribution of cases, 99 are in Dublin, 21 in Louth, 16 in Limerick, 15 in Meath, 13 in Cavan and the remaining 83 cases are spread across 20 other counties.

124 are men and 122 are women.

As of 2pm today, 185 people are now receiving treatment in hospital for the virus after ten new admissions in the past 24 hours.

Of those patients, 31 are in ICU.

The 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 of the population now stands at 81.5, up marginally from 81.2 yesterday.

'Younger generation led the way'

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health said: “Ireland currently has the lowest incidence in Europe and has protected against the significant mortality and severe illness that many European countries, as well as the United States, have experienced.

“Our younger generation led the way, with the incidence in the 19-24 year age group reduced from 432 per 100,000 population to 41 per 100,000 population. This is an enormous achievement.

“We all need to recognise how well our younger generation has reduced their contacts and helped to protect the whole population.

He added: "We all now need to follow this example in the weeks ahead.

“We can do this by planning from now for Christmas to reduce our social contacts and limit our activities to those that are essential and most important to us.”

Earlier, the Chief Medical Officer warned it is crucial that people "ration" their social contacts in the weeks ahead.

Dr Holohan said the public needs to play it safe and choose carefully who they meet in the run-up to Christmas.

In an interview with Newstalk, he said: "It's 13 days to Christmas Day, now is the time to start thinking about the plans you'll have over Christmas, who you'll be meeting.

"Minimise your social contacts over the next 14 days, reduce the chance of picking up this infection before Christmas and that minimises the chance of you passing this infection on to someone you love over the Christmas period."

Main image: File photo. Credit: Roberto Almeida Aveledo/Zuma Press/PA Images

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14-day Incidence Rate Coronavirus Covid-19 Covid-19 Ireland Dr Tony Holohan ICU Admissions NPHET

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