“It’s growing very slowly,”

That was acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn’s latest take on the epidemic as a further 89 new cases of Covid-19 were reported last night.

One death reported in last night’s figures relates to June, meaning it is more than a fortnight since someone has died from coronavirus in Ireland.

The National Public Health Emergency Team will meet this morning to discuss a worrying increase in Covid-19 cases among Ireland’s elderly. Figures show that 70 people over the age of 75 contracted Covid-19 in the past two weeks.

Yesterday the chair of NPHET’s Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, Professor Philip Nolan confirmed there has been a significant increase in the number of older and vulnerable people being treated for the virus.

There are currently 45 people being treated for Covid-19 in Irish hospitals, six of whom are in the ICU.

Dr @ronan_glynn Acting Chief Medical Officer #COVID19

“The effort to suppress COVID-19 begins in our own homes. Many confirmed cases in the past weeks and months have been close contacts of confirmed cases.”

— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) September 2, 2020

In the early days of the pandemic, elderly people were the group hardest hit by the coronavirus. In recent months, the age profile of those affected has been mostly under 45s, but now experts say they are seeing a “delayed increase among older and vulnerable age groups”.

“Everyone must be cautious in their interactions with these groups,” said Profesor Nolan.

“Those aged under 45 have a one in 100 chance of being hospitalised with Covid-19, but if you are aged over 75, this rises to one in five.”

Dr Glynn appealed to the public to double down on efforts to contain the virus:

“It is in our own household – through regular handwashing, cough and sneeze hygiene, cleaning surfaces, limiting the number of visitors and isolating as soon as we experience any concerning symptoms – that we can make the biggest impact,” he said.

“Every time you take responsibility to keep your social contacts low, avoid a crowded place or get-together, know that you are making a vital difference. It is individual action built upon individual action that will get us through this pandemic.”