Mayo's 14-day Covid incidence rate moves back above the national average after nine new cases

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of two additional deaths related to Covid-19.

Of the deaths reported today, one occurred in October and one remains under investigation.

As of midnight on Tuesday, the HPSC registered 362 new confirmed.

It included nine in Mayo which has recorded 198 cases in the past two weeks, giving it a 14-day incidence rate of 151.7% - above the national average of 145%

Of the cases notified today:

187 are men and 174 are women

55% are under 45 years of age

the median age is 41 years old

90 in Dublin, 48 in Donegal, 34 in Limerick, 29 in Louth, 24 in Limerick and the remaining 137 cases are spread across 21 other counties.

As of 2 p.m. today, 280 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 38 are in ICU.

There have been 21 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, said: "The profile of the disease is improving and, while this is a positive trend, it does not mean it is time to take a step back from our adherence to public health guidelines.

"I urge everyone to redouble their efforts, try and have fewer close contacts this week than you did last week, continue to social distance and follow the other vitally important public health guidelines.

"I also want to thank those who have self-isolated after receiving a positive Covid-19 test result or having been identified as a close contact of a confirmed case.

"Self-isolating is a vital measure in our efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19 and it is essential that all those asked to self-isolate continue to do so."