LATEST: No new cases of virus in Kilkenny for second day in row as six further deaths confirmed
A further six people have died after contracting the coronavirus as 411 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed this evening.
For the second day in a row no new cases were recorded in Kilkenny.
The overall death toll as a result of the virus has now reached 4,687. There have now been 235,845 confirmed cases of Covid-19 across the country, according to the latest daily briefing from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
The breakdown of the latest cases is as follows: 150 in Dublin, 31 in Donegal, 25 in Kildare, 25 in Wexford, 21 in Offaly and the remaining 159 cases are spread across 17 other counties, no cases were recorded in Kilkenny.
Commenting on today’s figures, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said: “Together with all of the basic public health measures with which we are all now so familiar, vaccination will significantly reduce risk of COVID-19 over the next relatively short period of time.
“It will radically reduce mortality when those over 70 are fully vaccinated but will initially have a smaller effect on hospitalisation and critical care until the wider adult population, especially vulnerable adults and those aged 50-69 years, are protected by vaccination.
“There is a critical window over the next eight weeks where any significant increase in close contact is likely to lead to a significant fourth wave of infection in the range of that experienced in January 2021.
“We can and should be optimistic for an enjoyable summer ahead but, in the meantime, we have to continue to work together to prevent a further wave of infection as we accelerate vaccination across society and maintain our health services,” Dr Glynn added.
