Coronavirus: A Further 14 Patients Have Died

Latest news updates for 12th April 2020,

17.37 - New figures:

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that 14 people diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ireland have died.

· 12 deaths located in the east, 2 in the west of the country

· the people included 6 females and 8 males

· the median age of today’s reported deaths is 80

· 10 people were reported as having underlying health conditions

There have now been 334 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

There are 192 confirmed cases in Westmeath up from 181.

Offaly now has 119, an increase of 15.

And Laois still has the lowest number in the region with 71, a rise of 10.

As of 1pm Sunday 12th April, the HPSC has been notified of the following cases;

· An additional 430 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported by Irish laboratories

· An additional 297 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported by a laboratory in Germany

With the latest German figures included, there are now a total of 9,655 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread.

Today’s data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Friday 10th April (8,496 cases) – and including German results received to that date, reveals:

· 45% are male and 54% are female, with 383 clusters involving 1,653 cases

· the median age of confirmed cases is 48 years

· 1,777 cases (21%) have been hospitalised

· Of those hospitalised, 261 cases have been admitted to ICU

· 2,312 cases are associated with healthcare workers

· Dublin has the highest number of cases at 4,514 (53% of all cases) followed by Cork with 648 cases (8%)

· Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 66%, close contact accounts for 26%, travel abroad accounts for 7%

• 17.04 - Boris Johnson:

  The British Prime Minister has personally thanked two nurses from New Zealand and Portugal for helping to save his life.

  Boris Johnson has been discharged from hospital after being treated for Covid-19.

  He was admitted a week ago after suffering ongoing symptoms of the virus.

  The number of people who've died across the UK after testing positive has now passed 10-thousand.

  Boris Johnson has a special thank you for the 2 nurses in particular:

  16.27 - Northern Ireland:

  11 more people have died from Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, while 89 new cases have been confirmed.

  It brings the total number of deaths there to 118 while there are now 1,806 confirmed cases.

  16.26 - Pope Francis:

  Pope Francis says those who've died and are sick due to Covid-19 are in his thoughts this Easter.

  The pontiff delivered virtual mass to more than a billion worshippers due to the current restrictions on public gatherings.

  In his blessing, he thanked healthcare workers and prayed for all those directly affected by pandemic:

  16.24 - Peak of Covid-19:

  The Taoiseach says it's possible we haven't reached the peak of Covid 19 - and that some of our "darkest days" are ahead.

  There are now almost 9 thousand cases in the Republic with 253 intensive care admissions - while 320 people have died.

  Leo Varadkar says we all need to do more to stop the spread of the virus:

   

   15.33 - Testing:

  People should soon be able to find out if they have Covid 19 less than 2 days after they're tested.

  Cillian de Gascun from the National Virus Reference Laboratory at UCD says such a quick turnaround is still a few weeks away:

  15.31 - Mortgage Breaks:

  Over 45-thousand three month mortgage breaks have been granted or are close to completion.

  The number is believed to be an under-estimation though as reports are still due back from credit service firms and non-bank lenders.

  The Banking and Payments Federation is also in talks with the Central Bank over measures they may have to take in the future.

  CEO Brian Hayes says 6 month breaks are being negotiated:

  15.30 - New York:

  An ICU doctor in New York has spoken about the horror of coronavirus in the city, the worst hit state in America.

  783 more people died in the city yesterday, bringing New York's total to 8,627.

  Dr.Steve Kassapidis says working on sick colleagues is one of the toughest tasks he's faced.

  15.27 - UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson:

  UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has been released from hospital after being treated for Covid-19.

  But a Downing Street spokesperson says he won't immediately return to work as he recovers from the virus.

  He will instead continue to recuperate at his country residence, Chequers.

   13.20 - Testing:

  The Chair of the Coronavirus Expert Advisory Group says 15,000 tests a day will be able to be carried out by the end of next week.
  
  Cillian De Gascun says people should also face less of a wait to get their test results:

  12.52 - Welfare:

  The Taoiseach appears to have ruled out welfare cuts and income tax hikes for dealing with the economic impact of the Covid 19 crisis.
  
  Leo Varadkar says they're not something the country needs in the next few years.
  
  The number of confirmed cases in the Republic now stands at just under 9 thousand and 320 people have died.
  
  In an interview with the Sunday Independent, Leo Varadkar says plans are also being drawn up to ease the current restrictions in stages:

  Your actions are making a difference. The spread of the virus is slowing. It’s more important than ever that we persevere. Taking what we have learned we will build a better society at the end of this — a great society for a great people. Happy Easter. pic.twitter.com/elLd4XKc9O

  — Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) April 12, 2020

  12.44 - Spain:

  A further 619 people have died in Spain after contracting coronavirus.
  
  That brings the country's total to nearly 17-thousand.
  
  There are now more than 166-thousand cases there.

  12.31 - Easter:

  Italian opera singer, Andrea Bocelli will perform an Easter concert later from an empty cathedral in Milan.
  
  The concert, called 'Music for Hope', will be streamed worldwide on YouTube at 6pm.
  
  The singer will perform a selection of tunes from sacred texts, accompanied by a pianist.

  12.12 - Healthcare workers:

  Ovre 2 thousand healthcare workers have now tested positive for Covid 19.
  
  HSE figures show the number of outbreaks in nursing homes has risen to 130.
  
  While 253 people have been admitted to intensive care units.

  11.41 - Schools:

  The Department of Education says any decision on re-opening schools will be taken in line with public health advice.
  
  It follows reports the government is considering allowing some schoolchildren to go back to class next month.
  
  The Sunday Times says health officials will discuss the possibility of bringing Leaving Cert students in for one or two days a week.
  
  The department says the public health advice will be the basis of any decision.

  11.21 - Economy:

  The governor of the Central Bank has warned not all jobs lost during the Covid 19 pandemic will be recovered.
  
  The unemployment rate reached 16.5 per cent in March as hundreds of thousands of people were left without work.
  
  In an interview with The Business Post, Gabriel Makhlouf also says the shock to the economy will be more severe than anticipated.
  
  The Central Bank has already warned it could take a hit of 15 per cent if restrictions aren't lifted by September.

  11.03 - US:

  The US has overtaken Italy with the highest death toll from Covid 19 in the world.
  
  More than 20 thousand people have now died after contracting the virus.
  
  New York accounts for over a third of confirmed cases.
  
  Katy Talento, a former health advisor to Donald Trump, says there are some encouraging signs:

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  10.37 - Nurse:

  A nurse who came back from Australia to help in the fight against Covid-19 says it was heartbreaking not being able to properly greet family after arriving home.
  
  Amy Keane, from Co. Wicklow, is now in self-isolation for two weeks before she begins work on the frontline.
  
  She says it was a strange feeling coming back:

  10.08 - Soldiers:

  Sinn Féin says it's too soon to call in the British Army to help deal with the pandemic response in Northern Ireland.
  
  The Northern Health Secretary, Robin Swann of the DUP, confirmed that he's asked for logistical support to set up a temporary hospital.
  
  The number of deaths in Northern Ireland rose to 107 yesterday after 15 more patients died from Covid-19.
  
  Sinn Féin MLA, John O'Dowd, says the the Executive should have been consulted about the move.
  
  He says civilian contractors are ready to work already as well:

  09. 47 - Restrictions:

   The Taoiseach says he's "optimistic" the coronavirus restrictions can start to be eased in May.
  
  Leo Varadkar's told the Sunday Independent that health officials are drawing up plans to relax them in stages.
  
  But he says there is a risk they could have to be re-introduced if the virus starts spreading again.
  
  The death toll in the Republic now stands at 320 and there are almost 9 thousand confirmed cases.
  
  Professor Kingston Mills, from the school of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin, says relaxing the restrictions too soon would be a mistake:

  09.26 - Britain:

  Britain is pledging 200 million pounds to the World Health Organisation and charities to help slow the spread of Covid-19 in vulnerable countries.
  
  More than 1.6 million people globally have been infected by the virus and there have been over 100-thousand deaths.
  
  210 countries have reported cases since the crisis began in China in December.

  09.13 - WHO:

  The World Health Organisation says it's investigating reports of recovered Covid-19 patients testing positive for a second time.
  
  South Korean officials says patients thought to be clear of the infection appear to have re-lapsed.
  
  WHO guidelines say patients can be discharged from hospital after two consecutive negative results 24 hours apart.

  08.54 - Homeless:

  The Peter McVerry Trust says it's used 110 apartments in Dublin city to help homeless people who are isolating due to Covid-19.
  
  The homeless charity's supporting those who are unwell in the city as they quarantine for fourteen days in the apartments.
  
  CEO of the Peter McVerry Trust, Pat Doyle says they've found more housing units for rough sleepers during the coronavirus pandemic:

  08.34 - Soldiers:

  A row's broken out in the North after its Health Secretary Robin Swann said he'd asked the British Army to aid the pandemic relief effort.
  
  Sinn Féin says it's "premature" to call in the troops -- and says it should have been discussed by the Northern Executive at a meeting on Friday.
  
  People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says more clarity is needed about what the British Army would be doing.
  
  He says if soldiers are going to staff temporary hospitals, they should do it out of uniform,

  08.21 - Retail workers:

  Retail workers say they're feeling the pressure to work extra hours during the pandemic -- and have trouble getting childcare while they do it.
  
  Trade Union Mandate is polling members on working conditions and has already received over a thousand responses.
  
  Gerry Light, assistant general secretary of Mandate, says they'll be raising the question with employers and the government in the next week:

   

08.00 - Number of cases: 

33 more covid-19 patients have died, bringing the death toll in the Republic to 320.

8,928 people have been infected since the pandemic reached Ireland, which includes an extra 286 cases reported by a lab in Germany.

There are 346 confirmed cases in the midlands.

Westmeath has 181 patients with COVID-19 up 29 from yesterday.

Offaly now has 104 confirmed cases up 16.

Laois has increased to 61 from 49. 

It's already killed over a hundred thousand people worldwide, and infected 1.7 million.

Health Minister Simon Harris says after the German lab has cleared a backlog of up to 15-thousand tests, the next step will be to extend the testing criteria.

Dr Mary Favier, president of the Irish College of General Practitioners says that will help find infection sooner: