The number of Covid-19 outbreaks in private homes and childcare facilities jumped last week as public health officials warned yesterday the daily toll of new cases of the virus does not reflect the true level of infection.
The number of Covid-19 outbreaks in private homes and childcare facilities jumped last week as public health officials warned yesterday the daily toll of new cases does not reflect the true level of infection.
People should not get distracted by the gradual decrease in Covid-19 cases , a statement from the Department of Public Health Mid-West, University of Limerick Hospitals Group and HSE Mid-West Community Healthcare warned.
Dr Mai Mannix, director of Public Health Mid-West, said: The current trend of decreasing infection levels is a welcome one, and helps our team manage complex clusters and outbreaks when they do arise. However, previous experience has shown that where is there is a noticeable drop in cases, there can be a shift in behaviours whereby some members of the public relax their efforts, which then leads to more cases and outbreaks.
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LOCAL healthcare chiefs are urging people in Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary to not get distracted by the gradual decrease in Covid-19 cases, and to take collective action to bring infection rates to a minimum.
The Department of Public Health Mid-West, UL Hospitals Group, and HSE Mid-West Community Healthcare say that while they welcome the considerable decrease in daily infection levels - which have dropped from 238 cases on January 12, to 70 on January 25 across the Mid-West - there is still a long road ahead.
While they say the latest numbers are a clear indication that there is sizeable buy-in from the public to comply with public health guidelines, due to close contacts not being tested at this time, “it is important for the public to understand that the current daily figures do not present a full picture, and we advise that people still consider everyone they meet a positive case”.
Mid-West health chiefs urge people to adhere to public health measures despite drop in cases
Declining cases do not present the full picture as close contacts are not being tested, health officials have said
While the number of Covid-positive inpatients in UHL has decreased this week, much of this relates to the delisting of patients as Covid-positive rather than recovered patients being discharged from hospital. Picture: Denis Minihane
Wed, 27 Jan, 2021 - 13:35
Caitlín Griffin
Health chiefs in the mid-west have urged people not to let their guard down despite a decline in the number of new Covid-19 cases in the region.