COVID-19 Cases Surge, Driven by New Variants

The number of reported COVID-19 cases in the state has significantly increased in recent weeks, sparking concern among health officials. This rise, coupled with the emergence of new variants, underscores the ongoing challenges of managing the virus.

Rising Case Numbers

Data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) reveals a substantial increase in COVID-19 cases. In the week ending June 21st, 353 cases were reported, up from 332 the previous week and 216 in the week before that.

While the 65 and older age group represented the largest share of cases, there was a slight decrease in this cohort compared to the week prior. Hospital admissions for COVID-19 saw a slight dip, with 120 admissions compared to 122 the previous week.

There were no COVID-related deaths reported last week, but one patient required intensive care. During the previous week, two deaths were recorded.

Outbreaks and Variants

Twenty-eight outbreaks of COVID-19 were identified last week, all within healthcare and residential institutions. These included outbreaks in nursing homes, hospitals, and residential homes.

The HPSC acknowledges that official figures underestimate the true prevalence of the virus due to reduced testing since the pandemic began. The recent increase is anticipated, as the virus tends to peak during winter and summer.

The summer peak is often linked to waning immunity, more easily transmissible variants, and changes in behavior like increased travel and spending more time indoors. The LP8.1 variant accounted for 38% of cases over the past five weeks.

The HSE states that there is no evidence of increased clinical severity or vaccine ineffectiveness against severe disease among current variants. A new variant, NB.1.8.1, detected last January, accounted for 15% of cases over the past five weeks, though its prevalence has slightly decreased in the past three weeks.

Expert Opinions

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has designated NB.1.8.1 as a “variant under monitoring,” assessing its public health risk as low globally. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control noted that NB.1.8.1 is circulating at low levels in Europe but expects it to rise in the coming weeks.

The centre added that decreased population immunity, due to low virus circulation last winter, may lead to increased infections and hospitalizations in the coming weeks, especially among those vulnerable to severe disease.

According to the CDC, as of June 2024, the most recent data available, COVID-19-related hospitalizations have increased in several regions across the United States, with the largest increases observed in the Northeast. CDC Data

Looking Ahead

The situation continues to evolve as officials monitor the situation and assess the impact of these variants on public health.