'Likely' spread of Delta will outmatch vaccine supply
HSE CEO Paul Reid said that there was a real race to get Covid-19 vaccines administered ahead of the potential spread of the Delta variant of the virus.
Speaking at a press briefing this afternoon, he said: "The most likely scenario is that the pace of growth of the Delta variant will most likely outmatch our supply of vaccines over the coming weeks."
Mr Reid said that the variant spreads prominently amongst those who are not fully vaccinated and that a proportion of people who may be fully vaccinated can also come under threat.
The HSE CEO said that over two million people, or 53% of the adult population, are now fully vaccinated against Covid-19, with 70% partially vaccinated.
HSE CEO Paul Reid says the "most likely" scenario is that the pace of growth of the Delta variant will "outmatch our supply of vaccines over the coming weeks". He says it is key that the Delta variant is taken seriously | https://t.co/XhZX2bb6gJ pic.twitter.com/EDwSIf1NsD
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) July 8, 2021
No rise so far in hospital Covid-19 cases
Hospital numbers are being monitored "very closely", according to Mr Reid.
He said that the number of people being treated in intensive care with the virus is low, with 17 patients. He said that in total, there are over 260 people being treated in ICU and that the HSE has not "as yet" seen a rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in hospital.
Mr Reid said that in terms of planning, the HSE is looking at a range of scenarios but it is difficult to predict what may happen.
"We do know, most likely, that cases may rise and challenge testing and tracing systems, but it's unknown at this stage the full impact on hospitalisations," he said.
Paul Reid says that the HSE is closely monitoring hospital numbers. He says that the HSE has not "as yet" seen a rise in the numbers of Covid-19 cases in hospital | https://t.co/XhZX2bb6gJ pic.twitter.com/CR2KekSkbs
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) July 8, 2021
20% rise in 14-day average
The Chief Clinical Officer of the HSE has said that there has been a 20% increase in the 14-day average per 100,000 since last week.
Dr Colm Henry told the press briefing that it now stands at 121 per 100,000 and is particularly high in counties Donegal and Dublin.
HSE's Chief Clinical Officer Dr Colm Henry says that the 14-day average is 121 per 100,000 which is up 20% on last week. He says that the 14-day average is highest in counties Donegal and Dublin | https://t.co/XhZX2bb6gJ pic.twitter.com/L0kAjsOXRl
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) July 8, 2021
He also said that the five-day moving average is at 462, which is up by 44% from last week.
Dr Henry said that 55% of the Covid-19 cases are in the 19-44 age group.
The Delta variant now accounts for 70% of cases in Ireland, he said, making it the dominant variant here.
Dr Colm Henry says that the Delta variant of Covid-19 now accounts for 70% of cases in Ireland. He says that it is "now the dominant" variant | https://t.co/XhZX2bb6gJ pic.twitter.com/ApfuFeMJAW
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) July 8, 2021
'Floodwall holding tight', says Henry
Regarding Covid-19 outbreaks in nursing homes and hospitals, Dr Henry said that the "floodwall is holding tight".
Dr Henry told the briefing that this is reflecting the high degree of vaccinations of residents and health care workers in nursing homes.
"The floodwall is holding tight," he said, adding "as with any other floodwall, if the water rises high enough - if the cases rise high enough - it can be breached."
In relation to nursing homes and community hospitals, Dr Colm Henry says that the "floodwall is holding tight" in these areas due to vaccinations. However, he said that if the cases rise high enough, "it [the floodwall] can be breached" | https://t.co/XhZX2bb6gJ pic.twitter.com/WQnflqNUcc
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) July 8, 2021
Progress in IT restoration following cyber-attack
The Chief Operations Officer of the HSE said that "huge progress" has been made in the effort to reduce the damage caused by the cyber-attack.
Anne O'Connor said that 54 days since the attack, huge progress has been made.
She told the press briefing that emails are back online, with the exception of the north east and the north west, and that the platform recovery is ongoing.
Ms O'Connor said internet access has been restored, enabling the HSE to have access to a lot more this week.
Anne O'Connor, HSE's Chief Operations Officer, says that "huge progress" has been made in the effort to reintroduce IT systems since the cyber-attack | https://t.co/XhZX2bb6gJ pic.twitter.com/ErswCyUo4x
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) July 8, 2021
