The rate of Covid-19 cases and deaths are continuing to spike as Ireland became the country with the highest incidence rate on the planet in the last few days.
There is severe pressure on hospitals – with the number of patients increasing and the number of available beds going the other way.
However, the end is in sight, as more and more vaccinations are taking place daily, with there being more good news this morning.
Hospitals
As of 8am today, 1,620 people are in hospitals across Ireland with Covid-19.
143 of those are in the ICU – but there are now only 30 adult beds available in the country for patients as hospitals are running out of space.
Last night, RTÉ broadcast live from outside Dublin’s Mater Hospital, where nurses and staff urged people to follow guidelines after viewers got an inside look at the chaos that Covid wards face every day.
Cork University Hospital is caring for 140 Covid-19 patients, the highest number in the country.
A new vaccine
There is better news on the vaccine front, with the President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen confirming that Astra-Zeneca had applied for authorisation of its Covid vaccine in the EU.
It would become the third jab to get the all-clear from the EU after the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were authorised in recent weeks.
Ireland has been allocated around 3.3 million jabs in a pre-purchase agreement with the EU.
Due to its ability to be stored in a normal fridge, the Astra-Zeneca dose has been described as a ‘game-changer’ by officials.
If authorised, Ireland could start giving doses of the Astra-Zeneca jab by the end of the month
The worst-hit counties
Monaghan continues to have the highest 14 day Covid-19 incidence rate per 100,000 population.
According to HPSC, the Ulster county has a rate of 2525.0.
Louth is the county with the second highest incidence rate currently at 2201.2, followed by Limerick which has a rate of 1878.4.
