Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said the fact that just over 2,000 people have now died from Covid-19 in Ireland is a sad and sobering milestone.
The Department of Health reported 12 additional deaths related to the coronavirus today, bringing the total number of fatalities to 2,006.
A further 379 new cases of the virus have been confirmed. Seven cases have been denotified which means there have been a total of 69,058 confirmed cases of in Ireland.
Mr Donnelly said: "Our thoughts and prayers and sympathies are with all of the families, friends and colleagues of everyone who has died. Not only have we lost now more than 2,000 people to Covid but families and friends have not been able to mourn in the way we normally would. So it's been even more difficult for so many people right around the country."
He said this is a time to reflect and to acknowledge the huge loss of life that the virus has caused.
However, he added: "There is good news and there is hope. There was a huge reduction in the number of people who died of Covid in the second wave. We are learning more and more about this virus, our clinicians are getting better and better at treating people who contract Covid. There are some very hopeful vaccines coming and they seem to be coming early next year."
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said the fact just over 2,000 people have now died from Covid-19 is a sad and sobering milestone to have reached | Read more: https://t.co/61eTlj2NA8 pic.twitter.com/qYadtZ1LlY
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 18, 2020
As of 2pm today, 282 people with Covid-19 were being treated in hospital, an increase of 10 on yesterday.
The number of people in intensive care units has dropped from 34 yesterday to 33 today.
An additional 24 people were hospitalised in the past 24 hours.
Of the cases announced today, 174 are men and 203 are women. The median age is 36 years and 64% are aged under 45.
Dublin accounts for 116 of the cases, 38 are in Donegal, 30 were confirmed in Meath, 27 in Cork, 22 in Limerick, 22 in Louth. The remaining 124 cases are spread across all other counties.
The 14-day incidence rate is 119.9 per 100,000 of the population which remains unchanged from yesterday.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said it was important that people continue to work together to suppress the virus.
"Today we sadly report over 2,000 deaths associated with Covid-19 to date in this country. This pandemic has impacted, directly and indirectly, on families and communities all across Ireland", he said.
"It is important that we continue to work together if we are to suppress this virus and protect as many people as possible. For the next two weeks, work from home, stay at home and follow public health advice."
Minister Donnelly echoed the remarks, saying that Ireland needs to stay the course in relation to the restrictions currently in place.
"Thanks to the huge sacrifices people are making all around Ireland during Level 5 we've managed to push the virus back down. The first three weeks were really good. We flatlined in the fourth week. I think people were fatigued and who could blame them, but for the next two weeks now we need to double down and push this virus back down so we can open up the country in December."
The Taoiseach has told his party colleagues that people will be able to have an enjoyable, safe and meaningful Christmas.
Micheál Martin said that Government will make a decision next week on how the country will exit Level 5 restrictions in early December.
