Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan has warned that recent progress in supressing the spread of Covid-19 is at risk after a new rise in case numbers in recent days.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) reported six new deaths and 456 new cases on Saturday evening. This brings to 1,978 the total number of deaths related to the disease in the Republic with the total number of confirmed cases here now at 67,526.
Publishing the data on Saturday night, Dr Holohan said: Analysis of todays data shows the five-day moving average of case numbers has increased from 354 to 392.
We have seen higher numbers in recent days than we expected based on the encouraging trends of the last three weeks.
We are concerned that this progress is at risk. We have to remember that the virus is still very active in the community and we cannot let our guard slip. Nphet will continue to monitor the situation closely over the coming days.
We all need to focus on what we can do to stop the spread of this disease; wash our hands regularly, wear a face covering, keep our distance from others, avoid crowds, limit our social network, know the symptoms, self-isolate and contact a GP if we have them. Stay at home and restrict our movements if you are a close contact of a confirmed case.
Of the cases notified on Saturday:
A lot to reflect on and take on board in this piece. But to have kept things simmering along at Level 3 (1000 cases/day) would have resulted in at least 1200 hospitalisations + 150 deaths a month; and things kept simmering tend to boil over. @IrishTimeshttps://t.co/N5P29F4T78
Professor Philip Nolan (@President_MU)
November 14, 2020
Six more deaths and 456 new cases reported on Saturday
