It’s been a year since the first death related to Covid-19 in Ireland.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been notified that 10 more people with Covid-19 have died in Ireland.
The HPSC has also been notified of an additional 592 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.
253 of the cases are in Dublin, 52 in Kildare, 35 in Donegal, 33 in Meath, 28 in Galway and the remaining 191 cases are spread across all other counties.
As of 8am today, 359 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 87 are in ICU.
There have been 32 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
Dr. Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Heath said: “Today marks one year since we reported Ireland’s first death related to Covid-19. More than 4,500 people have lost their lives with this disease.
“We remember them, and their families and friends, as well as the many people who remain seriously ill or who are dealing with long-term health issues because of Covid-19.
“We now have three vaccines and a fourth authorised by the European Medicines Agency today, which offers us a way out of this pandemic. We must continue to protect as many people as possible from the severe effects of COVID-19 and to give people a chance to become vaccinated over the next number of weeks and months.
“Your efforts to limit contacts and follow the public health advice is not in vain, it is to protect people and it directly saves lives.”
Today, NPHET endorsed new HPSC guidance on nursing home visitation which allows for more regular visiting. The new guidance comes into effect from 22 March 2021.
Professor Martin Cormican, Clinical Lead for Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, HSE said: “Under the new guidance, Residents may be facilitated to receive two visits per week on general compassionate grounds.
“This will be possible following two weeks after a high proportion of residents and healthcare workers have been vaccinated. There is no requirement to limit visits to less than one hour.
“Nursing home residents have been particularly impacted by the severity of Covid-19 restrictions. Thanks to vaccination we are delighted to be in a position to recommend new guidance and hopefully relieve residents and their families of some of the isolation they have endured for so long.”
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