Three deaths and 248 Covid-19 cases confirmed as CMO praises efforts of young people

The HPSC has been notified of 248 confirmed cases of the coronavirus.

There are now a total of 75,756 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Republic. 

This figure includes the reclassification of one probable case to confirmed.

As of 2pm this afternoon, there are 185 Covid-19 patients in hospitals around the country with 31 of those in ICU.

There have been 10 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan, has reminded people to reduce their social contacts in the run-up to Christmas.

Ireland currently has the lowest incidence in Europe and Dr Holohan said the country has protected against the "significant mortality and severe illness" that many European countries and the US have experienced.

The national 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 is 81.5.

Donegal continues to have the highest rate in the country with 216.7.

Eight other counties have a 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 of above 100 - Kilkenny (191.5), Louth (173), Carlow (158.1), Monaghan (138.5), Limerick (125.2), Longford (122.3), Wicklow (115.9) and Mayo (102.7).

Dr Holohan commended the efforts of young people as the incidence in younger age groups have been significantly reduced.

"Our younger generation led the way, with the incidence in the 19-24 year age group reduced from 432 per 100,000 population to 41 per 100,000 population.

"This is an enormous achievement.

We all need to recognise how well our younger generation has reduced their contacts and helped to protect the whole population. We all now need to follow this example in the weeks ahead.

"We can do this by planning from now for Christmas to reduce our social contacts and limit our activities to those that are essential and most important to us."

Speaking on Newstalk this morning, Dr Holohan said he understood that people wanted to get out and celebrate, but that limiting social contacts was the only way to minimise the chance of potential transmission of Covid-19.

He said: "Think hard over the next two weeks about what is essential in terms of preparing for the festive period."

The Irish College Of General Practitioners Covid Advisor Dr Nuala O'Connor says everyone should be careful in the lead up to Christmas.

"I know at the moment everyone is just dying to meet their friends, people are looking forward to getting together with their extended family and friends over Christmas," said Dr O'Connor.

"But we need to keep the numbers small. If you're planning on having older generations of your family getting together at Christmas it is now that you need to be restricting your movements.

"You need to make sure that you don't pick up Covid and you are not going to transfer it to them."

In the North today, a further nine deaths related to Covid-19 have been reported.

According to the Department of Health, three of these deaths occurred outside the 24-hour reporting period.

There have also been 476 confirmed cases of the virus.

There are currently 409 patients with Covid-19 in the North's hospitals with 27 of those in the ICU.