Thread by @newschambers

HSE presser underway.

Paul Reid: All key indicators of the virus are going up. 5 day average up 95%, 7 day average up 93%.

🏥 95 in hospital. 23 in ICU.

"We haven't seen the worst impact of what we've seen modelled in the coming weeks. We're in the early stages."

Thankfully, he says, we are coming off a low base.

On admissions of people for reasons other than Covid - but who test positive after that point, Reid says these take up more resources than non-positive patients.

They need additional resources, isolation etc.

(Will ask about extent of this shortly)

Reid reiterates 'for young people' to watch the date by which their vaccination takes effect.

"We have seen instances of people getting vaccinated, travelling away very quickly and coming back with Covid."

"Vast improvement" in restoring services after the #HSECyberattack says COO Anne O'Connor.

However, waiting lists have grown considerably. "It's a huge number."

Test positivity at 8.8%. In some sites, it's gone as high as 25%.

Highest demand for testing in Donegal, Dublin, Louth, Meath and Galway.

Incidence in Donegal by far the highest in the Republic.

Louth and Dublin the next highest.

75% of cases are among under-35s.

25% of cases in the 19-24 age group.

There were 70 deaths confirmed between May 13 - July 13.

41 among unvaccinated (59%)
17 among partially-vaccinated (24%)
12 among fully vaccinated. (17%)

Of fully-vaccinated people to have died - all were above 65 and only 2 died more than 14 days after being fully vaccinated.

Of 26 patients admitted to ICU in Ireland who were at least partially vaccinated - 88% had an underlying condition.

Delta now accounts for over 90% of cases in Ireland.

On herd immunity: Required percentage of vaccination/past infection to reach herd immunity is estimated to be as high as 90% - HSE.

Asked about hospital acquired Covid:

"Great majority of cases in hospital are there because they're sick with Covid... nothing unusual in picking up cases by screening in hospital but there's a risk. You can risk passing it on in hospital to someone who may get v sick or die."

Paul Reid says he's worried about people getting complacent about hospitals - says it's a "tiny proportion" of asymptomatic people among figures. "People treated in hospital are very sick. You ask anyone in our hospitals and they'll tell you how sick people coming in are."

Asked about drop in vaccine effectiveness in preventing hospitalisation/deaths among people with severe underlying conditions.

CH says all vaccines have breakthroughs. He says it's impt to get community transmission down for preventing infection in unvaccinated AND vaccinated

Mental Health impacts of lockdown: Anne O'Connor says CAMHS services are busy. Increase in children presenting with eating disorders. Now specific data but it will be provided.

Reid says eating disorders becoming more noticeable at sites across the country.

Paul Reid says he understands there have been "difficult complications" with the deal on Romanian vaccines. He doesn't know exactly what they are as it's on Dept of Health level.

Damien McCallion says they're less important now 'given the rate we're getting through ages'.

Paul Reid says it's about 'personal judgement' whether or not people go abroad on holidays without being vaccinated but says it's a lot more cumbersome to do so anyway.