The data are saying one thing: be very cautious faced with the delta variant. We are seeing a very steep rise in cases, comparable to or steeper than the early part of previous waves. 1/9
This will not translate into severe disease and mortality in the same way as before, but numbers in hospital are rising: 101 this morning. The ratio of admissions to cases is 16 admissions per 1000 cases, overall we are tracking 15-25 admissions per 1000 cases. 2/9
Weekend effects typically give low case counts on Sunday and early in the week; case counts over the next few days will be an important indicator. 3/9
Growth rate is currently 5-7% per day, which would give a doubling time of 10-15 days; these estimates are quite unstable given the very rapid increase in cases in the last few days 4/9
While cases are concentrated in older teenagers and younger adults, we are beginning to see an increase in incidence across other age groups, including those aged 65 and older. 5/9
Incidence in those aged 16-29 years is rising rapidly, is higher than we have seen since end of January 2021, and higher than the October 2020 peak. 6/9
Incidence varies by county, but most counties have a 7-day incidence significantly greater than 50% of their 14-day incidence, indicating rapid growth in those counties. 7/9
We need to limit transmission: a wave of infections in young people will cause severe illness and long-term complications in a sizeable minority, and will break through the protection of vaccination to cause dangerous infections in older and vulnerable people. 8/9
We know what we need to do: support those not yet fully vaccinated to socialise safely outdoors and distanced, and we all need to self-isolate and seek a test if symptomatic, avoid crowds and crowded spaces, and take the basic public health and hygiene precautions. 9/9
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It’s worrying to see incidence appear to increase after a long period of stability or slow decline, and especially concerning that it is increasing across almost all age groups. Daily average case count 387, up from 311 one week ago. 1/4
Incidence is increasing across all age groups from 5 to 70 years of age, notably in those age cohorts where there are significant numbers of partially vaccinated people, a reminder of the importance of that second dose, and that delta exploits the vulnerability between doses. 2/4
Growth rate is estimated at about 2% per day, reproduction number 1.0-1.2. The level of infection seems to be growing again, almost certainly driven by the increased transmissibility of the delta variant, spreading in the unvaccinated and partially vaccinated. 3/4
It has been a difficult and disappointing week for many, as the rise to dominance of the delta variant has delayed plans for wider reopening; but the likely impact of delta is stark, and caution is well advised. 1/36
We use scenario models to help NPHET and Government think quantitatively about risks and likely disease trajectories and impacts. The short form: we use a number of standard models, they are already published, and the effect of vaccination is included. 2/36
The first is a standard homogeneous population SEIR model. This considers the population, as a whole, moving between different compartments: susceptible (S), exposed (E), where you have the virus but cannot yet spread), infectious (I) and recovered (R). 3/36
Dr. Mina, you have inferred a great deal about my knowledge and motivation from one tweet; fair enough, it may not have been my finest moment in pandemic communications. Nonetheless, a few points of clarification and response. 1/15
First, there is a context. This is not about antigen testing in general, which does have and will continue to have a role in our management of the pandemic. 2/15
This is about the uncontrolled and unsupported sale of antigen tests by a supermarket chain, and their (one hopes tongue-in-cheek) response to advice from @CMOIreland not to use them, as a negative test might give false reassurance that you are free of infection. 3/15
A lot of reasons to be optimistic. While incidence is relatively high, it is stable, due to our collective efforts to minimize transmission. If we remain careful, and keep each other safe, we can see this through the few weeks until vaccination offers us greater protection. 1/4
Incidence has remained stable through April, and test positivity below 3% despite intense testing. The numbers in hospital and ICU are decreasing; importantly, daily admissions remain low. 2/4
The recent increases in incidence in children and adolescents seem to be transient, and incidence in these age groups is now trending back towards the population average. 3/4
We have looked carefully at incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children in recent weeks for any impact of the phased return to the classroom. The data, and thorough public health investigation, confirm that schools remain a low-risk environment. 1/16
Schools are low risk because of the mitigation and protection measures put in place by teachers, principals, families, general practitioners and public health doctors. 2/16
The data show a moderate and transient increase in cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection reported in children, not directly because of the return to in-person education, but due to increased detection, or case ascertainment, related to an increase in testing. 3/16
Let’s protect the vulnerable. Keep your contacts to a minimum between now and Christmas and then celebrate with a small circle. Meet outdoors if you can. If indoors: limit numbers and duration, use masks and keep your distance, gentle natural ventilation. 1/5
It’s good that numbers in hospital and ICU are falling. Behind each number is a human story of illness and loss. Hospitalisations lag behind cases, and sadly what we are seeing now is the impact on older and vulnerable people infected towards the end of the recent surge. 2/5
A semi-log plot clearly shows the delay between rising cases and rising hospitalisations, and equally the delay between the suppression of infections in the community and the decline in the number of severely ill people in hospital. 3/5