The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) confirmed yesterday that two further patients, diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ireland, have died.
The patients are a female in the east of the country, with an underlying health condition, and a male in the east of the country.
Nine deaths
There have now been nine COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.
The HPSC confirmed 235 new cases of COVID-19 as at 1pm yesterday, (Wednesday 25 March.
There are now 1,564 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.
Yesterday’s data from HPSC, as of midnight, Monday 23 March (1,164 cases), reveals:
- 55% are male and 45% are female, with 63 clusters involving 289 cases,
- The median age of confirmed cases is 45 years,
- 305 cases (26%) have been hospitalised,
- Of those hospitalised, 39 cases have been admitted to ICU,
- 283 cases (24%) are associated with healthcare workers,
- Dublin has the highest number of cases at 559, (57% of all cases) followed by Cork with 133 cases (11%),
- Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 49%, close contact accounts for 23%, travel abroad accounts for 28%.
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said:“Our data showed yesterday that only 6% of our tests so far returned positive, so for every 100 people we test we are only finding six people with COVID-19.
Case definition
“In light of this, our case definition changed.
“Changing case definition is a standard practice in managing pandemics.
Ultimately, we want our 6% detection rate to increase, we want to find as many people as possible with COVID-19, isolate them and contain the spread.”
Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health said:
Priortise
“We are seeking to prioritise those who are to be tested with a focus in the short-term on those who are vulnerable and those who are at the highest risk to exposure.
"GPs are best placed to advise individuals with symptoms whether they need a test or not. Ultimately, the test has no impact on the clinical course of this disease and the priority for anyone with symptoms is to isolate themselves.”