A further 174 coronavirus cases have been confirmed while sadly another one person died from Covid-19.
The latest figures were announced by the National Public Health Emergency Team this evening and are a massive jump on previous days.
Dr Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “While today’s numbers of confirmed cases are high, they are not unexpected. As I said last night, we are expecting significant numbers of cases to be reported over the coming days.
“Throughout this week, we have been testing all workers in facilities where outbreaks of COVID-19 have been identified as well as close contacts of those people who have received COVID positive results. Tonight’s figures are a reflection of these measures with 118 of these cases linked to the counties of Kildare, Laois and Offaly.
“Our priority now and our reason for recommending the proactive measures announced last night, is to avoid these cases and clusters leading to widespread community transmission of the disease.
“50 of tonight’s cases are located outside of these three counties and around the rest of the country. I once again ask everyone regardless of where you live in the country to take every precaution possible to help us control the spread of this disease and protect our most vulnerable. This means continuing to wash our hands, keeping 2 metres apart from one another, avoiding crowds, wearing face coverings where appropriate, covering our coughs and sneezes and downloading the COVID Tracker app.”
Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said; “As outlined by the Acting Chief Medical Officer at the press conference last night, the 14-day incidence per 100,000 population in Kildare, Laois and Offaly is worryingly high. While the national incidence stands at 16.3 per 100,000, in Kildare it stands at 130.3, in Laois it is 69.7 and in Offaly it is 89.8.
“Should these cases result in widespread transmission, it could undo a lot of the good work that we have done as a country so far to control the spread of this virus. The measures introduced by NPHET last night represent a proactive and proportionate response to the current situation in these counties”
The figures come as local lockdowns in three midlands counties come into affect from today following an alarming spike in coronavirus cases.
Gardai are set to enforce strict Covid-19 restrictions in Laois, Kildare and Offaly set to affect some 400,000 citizens.
Under the new restrictions, pubs and restaurants will close, except for the serving of delivery or take-away food under the new measures.
Retail outlets, playgrounds and childcare services can remain open, while preparations for schools returning this month can continue.
Visits to prisons, acute hospitals and nursing homes will be suspended except on compassionate grounds.
The rest of the country has been urged not to travel to these counties, unless for essential work purposes.
Households are asked to restrict visitors to just six people from no more than three households.
Groups of no more than 15 people should meet up outdoors.
In his announcement of the measures on Thursday night, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said: "We have to be decisive. We can’t afford to 'wait and see' – the disease is not waiting.
"We must protect public health to the greatest extent possible.
"Everything else is secondary to that, and if this requires difficult decisions then so be it."
