Home News Community Coronavirus: 52 more deaths and 2,371 new cases – 17 of them...

Coronavirus: 52 more deaths and 2,371 new cases – 17 of them in Laois as Level 5 likely to be extended until March

There have been a further 52 Coronavirus-related deaths and 2,371 new cases, according to figures released by the health authorities today.

50 of these deaths occurred in January. The median age of those who died is 82 years and the age range is 39-99 years.

17 of the new cases are in Laois, meaning the county’s 14-day incidence rate falls to 763.9, from 807.6 yesterday. The national 14-day rate now stands at 1,017.

There are now 647 confirmed active cases in the county, compared to 684 yesterday.

Of the cases notified today:

  • 1,129 are men / 1,194 are women
  • 57% are under 45 years of age
  • The median age is 40 years old
  • 757 in Dublin, 237 in Cork, 154 in Waterford, 123 in Wexford, 114 in Louth, and the remaining 986 cases are spread across all other counties.

As of 2pm today, 1,931 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 219 are in ICU. 78 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer said: “We know that the ongoing restrictions are very challenging for people but, through the hard work and sacrifice of the vast majority of people, we are starting to see the first signs of a lower prevalence of the disease in the population. Strictly adhering to the public health measures is the key to making real progress in terms of flattening the curve and lowering the current trends in our hospitals and ICUs.

“The ‘COVID-19 find-test-trace-isolate’ process is vital to our efforts. Our data is telling us that for a third of people, it’s 4 days or more from the time they first experience symptoms of COVID-19 to the time they get tested. We all need to contact our GP as soon as symptoms occur, so we can trace our contacts and prevent further infections.

“This weekend, we need everyone to stay the course with hand washing, covering coughs, wearing face coverings and keeping a 2m distance. In order to take care of each other, we need all to stay at home, except for essential reasons, to minimise the spread of COVID-19 to ourselves and our loved ones.”

New Cases in Laois

  • January 21 – 17
  • January 20 – 45
  • January 19 – 38
  • January 18 – 46
  • January 17 – 24
  • January 16 – 62
  • January 15 – 48
  • January 14 – 53
  • January 13 – 60
  • January 12 – 45
  • January 11 – 40
  • January 10 – 63
  • January 9 – 105
  • January 8 – 6

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

  • January 21 – 763.9
  • January 20 – 807.6
  • January 19 – 851.3
  • January 18 – 933.9
  • January 17 – 898.5
  • January 16 – 964.6
  • January 15 – 935.1
  • January 14 – 1001.2
  • January 13 – 952.8
  • January 12 – 941
  • January 11 – 913.8
  • January 10 – 911.5
  • January 9 – 843
  • January 8 – 722.6

New cases in Laois during past 14 days

    • January 21 – 647
    • January 20 – 684
    • January 19 – 721
    • January 18 – 791
    • January 17 – 761
    • January 16 – 817
    • January 15 – 792
    • January 14 – 848
    • January 13 – 807
    • January 12 – 797
    • January 11 – 774
    • January 10 – 772
    • January 9 – 714
    • January 8 – 612

Level 5 to be extended

Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said that schools will not reopen as planned on February 1 – saying the Government’s first focus remains on the reopening of special classes and schools, on which talks are continuing.

The Taoiseach also says lockdown restrictions will likely be reconsidered on a four-week basis, suggesting no exit from Level 5 until at least March 1.

He said Cabinet will consider plans to introduce mandatory quarantining for passengers arriving in to the State who do not have a valid PCR test showing they are Covid negative.

SEE ALSO – Laois Gardai bring charges after man ‘armed with a hammer’ threatens staff and robs shop