Laois Today: Coronavirus: Six further deaths and 612 new cases as positive impact of vaccine showing

The health authorities have announced a further six Coronavirus-related death and 612 new cases.

14 of today’s cases are in Laois, meaning the county’s 14-day incidence rate moves to 259.7 and under 260 for the first time in almost two months.

The Laois 14-day rate is still one of the highest in the country and the national 14-day rate is 212.2 but the figures are continuing to decline.

This day last week, the Laois 14-day rate was 297.5 and it was 296.4 two weeks ago.

The median age of those who died was 63 years and the age range was 41-86 years.

Of the cases notified today:

300 are men/311 are women
72% are under 45 years of age
The median age is 32 years old
289 in Dublin, 45 in Limerick, 34 in Longford, 33 in Galway, 26 in Kildare and the remaining 185 cases are spread across 19 other counties. *

As of 8am today, 554 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 133 are in ICU. There have been 19 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

As of February 25, 409,529 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland:

271,594 people have received their first dose
137,935 people have received their second dose

Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical, the Department of Health said: “Since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Ireland last February, our lives have changed in ways we never thought possible.

“More than 6,300 people on our island have lost their lives with COVID-19. 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 this disease.

“The response of colleagues across all parts of our health system has been remarkable. We should be extraordinarily proud, and take great heart, from the dedication and resilience which has been – and continues to be – shown by everyone involved in this response.

“Almost all sectors and communities have experienced loss and have been tested in ways unimaginable to us this time last year.

“This pandemic and the public health response to it has had a profound impact on lives and livelihoods. But it has also demonstrated the best of us as a people, working together and buying in as a collective to what has been necessary to protect one another.

“Last Spring, we met the challenge presented to us with collective enthusiasm. Ironically, while that enthusiasm has understandably waned and gone, there are more concrete reasons for hope and optimism now than at any time over the last 12 months;

We have seen week on week reductions in case numbers over the past six weeks and we are on track to have an incidence which is amongst the lowest in Europe;
The number of people in hospital has fallen by 38% over the past fortnight;
We have an educated and informed public and most people continue to do most of the right things most of the time – overcoming disinformation and playing their part in solidarity with one another;
We have a dedicated and committed health workforce who have consistently stepped up to challenges as they have presented;
We have three highly effective vaccines with more on the way, supply is ramping up and we are on course to have given about 80% of adults at least one dose by the end of June;
Vaccines are already having a very positive impact here with cases falling dramatically among healthcare workers and in our nursing homes;
Evidence is mounting quickly that these vaccines, as well as stopping people getting sick, also help to stop people passing the virus onto others;
While new variants have brought uncertainty, the existing vaccines perform well against them and work is already underway to develop booster versions should they be required;

“We still have a way to go. Our case numbers are still far too high and we must continue to do all we can to suppress this disease over the coming weeks. But if we can do this successfully through March, our focus will begin to turn to what we can do, rather than what we cannot.

“Yes, we need to be cautious and yes, there will be challenges over the coming months. But together, through science and solidarity, we will get through this and this pandemic will end.”

New Cases in Laois

February 27 – 14
February 26 – 15
February 25 – 15
February 24 – 9
February 23 – 18
February 22 – 10
February 21 – 10
February 20 – 13
February 19 – 29
February 18 – 13
February 17 – 22
February 16 – 24
February 15 – 15
February 14 – 7
February 13 – 13
February 12 – 19

14-day case rate in Laois per 100,000 population

February 27 – 259.7
February 26 – 264.5
February 25 – 277.5
February 24 – 278.6
February 23 – 292.5
February 22 – 295
February 21 – 294
February 20 – 297.5
February 19 – 307
February 18 – 299.9
February 17 – 303.4
February 16 – 305.8
February 15 – 284.5
February 14 – 273.9
February 13 – 296.4
February 12 – 307

New cases in Laois during past 14 days

- February 27 – 220
- February 26 – 224
- February 25 – 235
- February 24 – 236
- February 23 – 248
- February 22 – 250
- February 21 – 249
- February 20 – 252
- February 19 – 260
- February 18 – 254
- February 17 – 257
- February 16 – 259
- February 15 – 241
- February 14 – 232
- February 13 – 251
- February 12 – 260