1,620 cases confirmed as more than 90% of Irish adults fully vaccinated against Covid-19
Of 5% Been Will At As By Seven Least Of Getty Vaccine Picture: Will Administered, The Images Received Million Partial Have The End Have Vaccination Today, Than More 92 Doses
The Department of Health has confirmed a further 1,620 cases of Covid-19.
Currently, there are 328 people hospitalised with the virus, of which 59 are in ICU.
Two "major milestones" will be reached today in Ireland's vaccination programme, as more than 90% of adults have now been fully immunised against the Covid-19 virus.
By the end of today, more than 7m doses of the vaccine will have been administered, as 92.5% will have received at least partial vaccination.
Just 12 severe reactions have been recorded among a total of 6.8m doses.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said we've reached "two major milestones" in our vaccine rollout.
We’ve reached two major milestones in our Vaccine Rollout.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) September 10, 2021
90% of adults over 18 are now fully vaccinated.
And by the end of today, 7 million #Covidvaccines will have been administered.
There were 21 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland in the first full week of September.
In the same time period, 9,835 people were diagnosed with the virus, down 18% on the last week of August, with 74% of those under the age of 44.
Dublin made up more than a quarter (2,756) of all new cases, while Cork had the second-highest number at 876.
At the other end of the list, Kilkenny, Leitrim, Longford, Sligo and Waterford recorded fewer than 150 cases in each county.
Christine Loscher, professor of immunology at Dublin City University (DCU) said high vaccination rates were helping to protect the general population.
"We've regularly seen small increases and decreases, but this is a very definite decline and in line with that a small decline in hospitalisations and numbers in ICU," Prof Loscher said.
"I think it's really interesting that it has come at a time where double vaccinations in the younger age groups, those 18 to 24, and even the 16 to 17-year-olds, have gone way up in the last two weeks."
On Thursday, 1,292 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed, marking a fall of 253 on Wednesday's total.
There were 331 patients in hospital with the virus, down four, and 54 of whom were being treated in intensive care.
Brighter news. Progress on a range of areas related to #COVID19. Today 90% of adults are fully vaccinated with 92.5% partially. Hospitalisations are trending downwards. 329 in hospital, 54 in ICU. Overall testing positivity reducing but high volumes in schools still. @HSELive
— Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) September 10, 2021
There were 16 intensive care admissions last week. When numbers peaked in the middle of January, ICUs saw 123 admissions in one week.
The ICU admission rate between June and August was less than three people per 1,000 confirmed cases, down from seven in February.
Between May and August, the average hospitalisation rate was less than 20 people per 1,000 confirmed cases, down from 72 in February.
Professor Loscher said presenting for a second vaccine dose was vital.
"Second doses are really particularly important," she emphasised.
"For those who were hesitant about a second dose of AstraZeneca, there's now a second dose of Pfizer available.
"For people over a certain age, we're starting to see boosters and we would again encourage them to engage with that vaccination programme and maximise the effect of our vaccine world."
Meanwhile, Ireland has the highest incidence rate of the disease in the European Union.
According to analysis by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Ireland's 14-day incidence rate is at 434 cases per 100,000 people.
Two local electoral areas in Co Monaghan, as well as areas in Donegal and Leitrim, have the highest incidence rates of Covid-19 in the country.
Ballybay-Clones, along with Monaghan itself top the list with more than 1,500 cases per 100,000, making them the areas with the highest and second-highest rates of Covid 19 in the country.
Carrickmacross-Castleblayney also join them near the top of the list.
Donegal, however, has the highest number of areas on this list of the 10 highest rates.
Carndonagh, Buncrana and Milford are among the worst in the country, alongside Lifford Stranorlar and Glenties.
Manorhamilton in Co Leitrim and the Bailieborough-Cootehill area of Cavan complete the list of highest rates.
Finally, the area with the lowest Covid rate in the country by some margin is Fermoy in Cork, followed by New Ross in Wexford and Roscrea-Templemore in Tipperary.
Monaghan GP Illona Duffy, said it was a frustrating time for parents when their children were notified that they were close contacts.
"The big difficulty is that it means that these children are out of school for a full fortnight, and their parents obviously have to provide childcare during that time," Dr Duffy said.
"I think the big thing is that the children are losing time at school, at a time when the online availability of school is no longer there.
"It's hard and I think it's going to continue like that while we see high rates of transmission in the communities."
Dr Duffy said that if you or your child has symptoms of Covid-19, you should arrange to have yourself tested immediately by contacting your GP or booking a test online.
"Once you have symptoms you must remain at home," she said.
"That means you if you have symptoms or your child has symptoms, you must remain at home.
"Don't send them to school and you yourself don't go into the workplace until you've had a Covid test and it's negative."