HPSC reports 15.1% decrease in Covid-19 cases in past week

The highest number of new confirmed Covid-19 cases recorded last week was in the 75-84 age group

Just under 4,500 Covid-19 tests were performed during this period, of which 847 or 18.8 per cent were positive. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA Wire
Just under 4,500 Covid-19 tests were performed during this period, of which 847 or 18.8 per cent were positive. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

There has been a 15.1 per cent decrease in the number of Covid-19 cases recorded in the past week, according to the latest data published by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).

There were 824 new confirmed cases reported between August 20th and August 26th, compared with 970 the week before.

The highest number of new confirmed Covid-19 cases recorded last week was in the 75-84 age group, which made up 24.4 per cent of notified cases.

Just under 4,500 Covid-19 tests were performed during this period, of which 847 or 18.8 per cent were positive. “This is stable compared to the previous week,” the report noted, as the week previous showed 18.4 per cent were positive.

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Since the start of the pandemic, 9,180 Covid-19 deaths have been reported. Of these, one person died in the week between August 20th and August 26th this year.

The incidence rate of confirmed cases per 100,000 population is currently 17.3.

The incidence rate is currently highest in Westmeath and Waterford, where there were 53 and 69 cases recorded, respectively. The incidence rate is lowest in Longford.

Four people with Covid-19 were admitted to ICU in the latest week.

The HSPC’s Covid clusters report showed there were 52 outbreaks notified last week, a decrease of nine compared with the previous week.

There were 15 outbreaks associated with acute hospitals, 19 with nursing homes, five at community hospital/long-stay units, 12 outbreaks at residential institutions and one outbreak associated with other healthcare services notified.

Jade Wilson

Jade Wilson

Jade Wilson is a reporter for The Irish Times