Covid-19 cases up 21% in a week among children aged 14 and under, CSO says

Confirmed cases of Covid-19 increased significantly among those aged 14 and under in the week to November 26th, according to a report from the Central Statistic Office (CSO).

Cases among the cohort were up 21 per cent when compared to the previous seven days, the CSO’s latest Covid-19 bulletin says, with the age group accounting for more than a quarter (27 per cent or 8,277) of all cases in that period.

The bulletin provides information about those contracting or dying from the disease using data sourced from the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).

In the latest week 32 per cent of cases were recorded among people aged between 25 and 44. Just 6 per cent of infections were detected among people aged 65 and over while cases in the 80 and over age group decreased by 11 per cent.

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Twenty nine people died from Covid-19 during the week to November 26th. Of those, 20 (69 per cent) were aged 65 and over. Cork was the only county to record more than five deaths in the week.

In total, there were 30,243 cases, an increase of 10 per cent on the previous week. Since October, the weekly data shows the proportion of unvaccinated people catching the virus has declined in percentage terms, reaching 17 per cent by November 19th.

The State's most highly populated counties, Dublin (10,170) and Cork (3,358), had the highest number of new cases although the highest percentage increase in infections was recorded in Co Laois, where there was a 28 per cent rise. The largest decrease (27 per cent) was seen in Co Leitrim.

There were 249 hospitalisations in the week ending November 19th and 190 the following week, with a total of 25 people being admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) over the two weeks.

Since March of last year exactly half of those treated in ICUs were aged 65 and older. Since the beginning of the pandemic, men have accounted for 52 per cent of hospitalisations and 63 per cent of ICU admissions.

The data shows that 16 per cent of reported cases in the week ending November 26th were among those working in wholesale and retail and vehicle repairs sectors. A further 11 per cent were in the industry sector. Although cases are generally increasing across all sectors, cases during the week decreased by 13 per cent amongst those employed in health and social work areas.