Coronavirus: 14 More Patients Have Died

Latest news updates 28th March 2020.

18.02 - Breaking news:

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

All 14 deaths located in the east of the country. The median age of today’s reported deaths is 81.

There have now been 36 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been informed of 294 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland, as at 1pm, Saturday 28 March.

There are now 2,415 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

There are 85 confirmed cases in the midlands.

52 are in Westmeath while 22 people in Offaly have the illness.

Laois has 11 confirmed cases.

The HSE is now 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 HPSC, as of midnight, Thursday 26th March (1,904 cases), reveals:

53% are male and 46% are female, with 91 clusters involving 351 cases

the median age of confirmed cases is 46 years

489 cases (26%) have been hospitalised

Of those hospitalised, 67 cases have been admitted to ICU

445 cases are associated with healthcare workers

Dublin has the highest number of cases at 1070, (56% of all cases) followed by Cork with 184 cases (10%)

Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 52%, close contact accounts for 23%, travel abroad accounts for 25%

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “Today, we have our highest recorded number of deaths so far. Our condolences are with the family and friends of all patients who have died as a result of COVID-19.

“We thank all citizens who have complied with restrictive measures, who continue to follow public health advice and remain concerned for those around them.

“We must remain focused in our shared efforts to prevent the spread of this infection, to prevent severe illness especially that which requires ICU admission and ultimately save lives.”

Dr. Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “The Department of Health, HSE and our frontline workers will continue to take every action against COVID-19, but it is each and every one of us, individually, who has the power to reduce this threat. Stay at home, follow the advice and protect one another.”

Department of Health’s COVID-19 Information Dashboard; providing latest case information.

A full list of essential services can be found here.

17. 01 - Private hospitals:

The Health Minister says under the new emergency measures there has to be access to all private hospitals and equipment for the public service.

Simon Harris has just given a briefing on the coronoavirus crisis.

He expects the arrangement, which will result in 2,000 plus extra beds, to be in place from next week:

16.16 - Fitness:

The Body Coach Joe Wicks says he'll donate every single penny of the money he makes from his online PE sessions to Britain's health service - the NHS.

The fitness coach has been streaming workouts for kids in lockdown because of the coronavirus outbreak.

He says he's been overwhelmed by the support he's received.

15.21 - World figures:

The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases globally now stands at more than 618,000.

The US has the highest number at 105,000 followed by Italy in second with 87,000 and China with 82,000.

14.31 - Oldest man:

The world's oldest man has had to cancel his 112th birthday celebrations tomorrow because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Bob Weighton, from Hampshire in the UK only took up the title of the oldest man in the world last month after the previous holder died.

Mr Weighton, who was born in Hull on 29 March 1908, was 10-years-old during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic which killed between 50 and 100 million people.
 

13.45 - Public transport:

Irish Rail says it will continue to provide services during the pandemic but a reduced timetable will operate from Monday .

In line with government restrictions, the company is asking that only essential workers continue to use its trains.

Irish Rail spokesperson, Barry Kenny, says customers also need to maintain a physical distance whilst travelling:

13.11 - UK Cabinet:

Another member of Boris Johnson's top team has developed coronavirus symptoms.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack says he's now self-isolating.

Yesterday, the UK prime minister and his health secretary announced they'd been diagnosed with Covid-19.

Meanwhile hundreds of NHS staff will be tested this weekend to find out if they have it.

It's the start of a new push which the government hopes will begin when the first of three new labs is approved.

•  13.05 - GPs:

  Out of hours GPs will continue working after the HSE agreed to pay for Covid-19 phone consultations.

  The North East Doctor on Call service says that up to 70 percent of its calls are now dealt with by a direct doctor assessment.

  It claimed the HSE had refused to fund doctor triage calls but the health authority now says it will pay up to 75 percent of the total of last year's medical card scheme towards the service

  Medical Director of NEDOC, Illona Duffy, says while that's not enough they will continue to provide the essential scheme:

  Meeting medical leaders from across the country via teleconference this morning. Also joined by @LeoVaradkar on the call. We are all in this together. Political leaders & medical leaders will work side by side. Thank you for all you are all doing pic.twitter.com/Pu5S9GyFve

  — Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) March 28, 2020

  12.58 - Panic Buying:

  The Taoiseach's reminding people supplies are good and there's no need to panic buy or stockpile food.

  It follow reports of long queues outside some of the country's supermarkets this morning after tighter restrictions were introduced overnight.

  Leo Varadkar says food stores and takeaways are staying open, and you can go beyond the two kilometre restrictions to buy food and medicine.

  Arnold Dillion, from Retail Ireland, says it's important people shop responsibility:

  12.38 - Spain:

  832 people have died in Spain after contracting Covid-19 in the past 24 hours.

  The death toll in the country is now at over 5,500. 

  In total, there have been 72,000 positive coronavirus cases in Spain.

  12.17 - Supplies:

  The first flight to collect more Personal Protective Equipment from healthcare workers has left Irish airspace

  The 50-hour round trip to Beijing is being undertaken by Aer Lingus.

  It is expected back in Dublin tomorrow evening.

  This is the exchange between air traffic control and the pilots before take-off:

  11.49 - An Post:

  An Post has delivered four million postcards to households to allow people to stay in touch throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

  They will be free to send to relatives and friends.

  David McRedmond, CEO of An Post, says the postal service is essential:

  11.27 - Online:

  Socialising has changed over the last few weeks - with a trip to the pub replaced by online pub quizzes and dinner parties over Skype.

  That's prompted four friends to start a show called Wonderbirds.

  It's to promote staying in touch with people during isolation and is presented by former Coronation Street actress Sherrie Hewson:

  11.08 - Gardai:

  Gardaí are patrolling streets to ensure people are following the latest regulations outlined by the Taoiseach last night.

  2,500 members of the force are on duty, and will be stopping people to make sure their journey is essential.

  Regulations will be published next week which will outline Garda powers in terms of sanctions - whether someone can be fined or not it they are out of their home.

  Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, hopes the majority of people will follow the rules:

  10.51 - Food:

  The government says people can go further than 2kms from their home to buy food.

  It insists there's no need to panic buy or stockpile and that supply chains are working well.

  An updated list of essential retail outlets has been published this morning.

  They include shops selling food, drinks and consumer products, pharmacies, petrol stations, laundries, banks, post offices and pet shops.

  10.32 - Cocoon:

  Over 70s are now being told to "cocoon" themselves by staying indoors.

  Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan says it needs to be done to protect everyone:

  10.02 - Construction workers:

  The Health Minister has confirmed construction workers are NOT considered essential and should stay at home

  The government's imposed strict new measures, asking people not to leave their homes for the next two weeks.

  The exceptions are to buy food or household goods, attend medical appointments, exercise within 2 kilometres of your home or for vital family reasons.

  People CAN leave home to attend essential work - construction work isn't included, unless it's to build something crucial to Ireland's response to the pandemic.

  Health Minister Simon Harris explains some of the jobs that are considered essential:

  09.45 - Nursing homes:

  Elderly people feeling isolated is something we should be very concerned, according to a consultant psychiatrist.

  They are among the group encouraged to cocoon after last night's government announcement.

  Patricia Casey, Professor Emeritus at UCD, says people should make contact in some form.

  09.15 - Taoiseach:

  People are being told not to leave their homes for the next 2 weeks - except for a small number of circumstances.
  
  They are to buy food or household goods, go to medical appointments or essential work and for vital family reasons.
  
  Brief exercise is also allowed within 2 kilometres of someone's home.
  
  People over 70 are also being told to "cocoon" themselves by staying indoors.
  
  The measures are in place until Easter Sunday as part of government efforts to tackle Covid 19.
  
  Taoiseach Leo Varadkar doesn't believe there are many more restrictions that could be put in place in the future:

  09.01 - Essential businesses:

  The full list of essential workers will be published this morning.
  
  Health Minister Simon Harris says that won't include construction workers - but explains some of those that are covered:

  08.41 - Pope:

  The Pope offered an extraordinary blessing yesterday, the type of which is usually only held at Christmas and Easter:

  08.15 - UK:

  Hundreds of frontline NHS staff in the UK will be tested this weekend to find out if they have coronavirus.
  
  Antigen testing, developed in partnership between UK businesses, research institutes and universities, will be rolled out to those working in hospitals and social care.
  
  Antigens can be detected in blood before antibodies are made, meaning they are a much quicker way of identifying whether someone has an infection.

  07.56 - Lives:

  A leading medical expert says the decision to introduce extra Covid-19 restrictions was the right thing to do.
  
  Professor John Crown says we should see the impact of the latest measures in the next two to three weeks.
  
  He believes the government had to act to save lives.

  07.43 - Trump:

  In the US, medical staff are pleading for more equipment. 
  
  Donald Trump has issued an order aiming to force General Motors to produce ventilators for coronavirus patients - after accusing the company of wasting time. 
  
  The company says it's been working for more than a week to build more of them.

  07.31 - New York: 

  A huge relief bill has been signed by the US President to help people and firms affected by the outbreak.
  
  Many Americans will receive payments of 1-thousand dollars to help them through.
  
  But New York's governor, Andrew Cuomo is again warning about the scale of the outbreak:

  07.00 - Restrictions: 

  Severe and wide-ranging movement restrictions on every citizen are now in effect. 

  Everybody in the country must stay at home until at least Easter Sunday, to try stop the spread of Covid 19.

  It was just after 8.30 last night when Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, flanked by his health minister and the chief medical officer, walked into the Government press centre and announced extraordinary restrictions on people's freedom for the next two weeks.

  The mood was sombre, with the change in tone of the Government's covid 19 message clear on Leo Varadkar's face when he outlined the measures to a stunned media, who had no warning of what was to come. 

  Until April 12th, everybody must remain in their home except for very specific reasons. 

  You are allowed leave to buy food or household goods, to go to medical appointments and vital family reasons.

  You can also leave for brief exercise, but only within 2km of your home.

  Gardai will be out patrolling and can fine people.

  People over 70 must 'cocoon' in their homes, and arrange food and medicines.

  All gatherings are prohibited, including social family visits.

  The Taoiseach's asking people to restrict their lives to save the lives of others.

  He says that everyone must stay at home in all circumstances, except where work is essential and to buy food.

  Leo Varadkar said public transport is for critical workers:

  I know you might be anxious. We are all being asked to live life very differently for a little while. But we are all doing it to achieve an amazing national goal: keeping our families & country safe & saving lives. We will prevail. Goodnight all #coronavirus #Covid19

  — Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) March 27, 2020

  The Chief Medical Officer says having seen data regarding the numbers of cases and clusters in nursing homes and admissions to ICUs across the country - now is the time to act.

  Dr Tony Holohan says there's been an escalation in the past couple of days:

  The Taoiseach said Ireland is no different to the rest of the world in tackling Covid-19.

  Leo Varadkar said everyone has to play their part to slow the spread:

   

  I know you might be anxious. We are all being asked to live life very differently for a little while. But we are all doing it to achieve an amazing national goal: keeping our families & country safe & saving lives. We will prevail. Goodnight all #coronavirus #Covid19

  — Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) March 27, 2020

  06.42 - Elderly:

  There are calls for supermarkets to only allow the elderly and vulnerable people order shopping online and get it delivered.

  Friends of the Elderly say some have not been able to get food as all the slots for delivery are taken up.

  Deborah Costello is spokesperson for the group, she says people who are able to safely go to the shop should go:

  06.23 - Personal Protective Equipment:

  The first flight to collect more Personal Protective Equipment or frontline staff is due to take off this morning.

  The Aer Lingus cargo plane will have a 50 hour round trip to China to bring the consignment back, and is due to arrive tomorrow evening.

  The HSE is spending over 230 million euro to buy the much needed supplies for healthcare staff, in the battle against the coronavirus.

  Chief operations officer with the HSE Anne O'Connor says we will have PPE throughout all services inthe weeks and months ahead:

  Many businesses have been donating surplus Personal Protective Equipment to local hospitals.

  Beauty salons, restaurants and nail bars that have closed due to the spread of Covid 19, have been giving their left over surgical masks and latex gloves to healthcare workers.

  It's hoped that the donations will tide them over until the delivery arrives from China on Sunday.

  Funeral Director Robert Massey Maguire says to think the frontline staff are struggling to protect themselves is wrong:

  This is a time when communities will come together to ensure their elderly and vulnerable neighbours and friends remain safe #cocooning #COVID19 #communityresponseirl @ruralnetwork @The_Wheel_IRL @DeptRCD

  — Irish Rural Link (@irishrurallink) March 27, 2020

  06.00 - Gardaí:

  People are being asked to avoid beaches and mountain trails this weekend to maintain strict social distancing rules.

  A major nationwide policing operation supporting the government's latest restrictions is now underway.
   
  Thousands of Gardaí on foot, bike and mobile patrols will be ensuring that people obey the guidelines as set out by the Taoiseach in his address last night.

  They will intervene where venues or outlets are not in compliance with regulations and will also be breaking up groups of people who are not adhering to social distancing rules.

  They will be patrolling popular weekend spots to make sure there will be no repeat of the overcrowding that was seen last weekend.

  Commissioner Drew Harris says these high visibility patrols will pro-actively engage with people to provide re-assurance and social distancing during this time.