Increase

The numbers also show the biggest daily increase in new cases since the pandemic began, with 402 new cases pushing the total so far up to 3,849.

Nine of the people who died in the previous 24 hours were in the east, one in the south and three in the west. Nine were male and four female, while 10 were reported to have underlying health conditions.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan also gave a more detailed report on COVID-19 patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Of 148 cases admitted to an ICU, 14 have died, 25 have been discharged and 109 remain in an ICU. The median age of ICU admission is 62. 

Empty

Dr Holohan also urged people not to ignore signs that they may need treatment for other illnesses apart from COVID-19, saying he had witnessed “a worrying scene” of empty waiting rooms and empty beds during a visit to hospital on Tuesday.

“Please do not ignore any symptom outside of COVID-19. The hospitals are there for all ailments, not just COVID-19,” he said.

A breakdown of the figures for the 3,282 cases of COVID-19 recorded up to midnight on Tuesday shows that the median age confirmed cases was 48. 932 people, or 28% of those with the virus, have been hospitalised.

48% of people with the virus were male and 50% female.  841 cases, or just over a quarter of the total, involved healthcare workers. 60% of cases were linked to community transmission, 23% to close contact and 17% to travel.