10 Dead In One Day

Death toll doubles as virus war escalates   Taoiseach joins in applause for heroes Top doc warns: It is beginning of curve

- Ailbhe Daly

Ten people were confirmed dead from coronavirus yesterday – more than doubling the death toll overnight.

The shocking tragedies mark an escalation in Ireland’s war on the deadly Covid-19 bug. The number killed in the Republic now stands at 19 with a further 10 in the North.

As Taoiseach Leo Varadkar led a standing ovation in the Dail for HSE workers on the frontline of the pandemic, his Chief Medical Officer was painting a bleak picture of what lies ahead.

Dr Tony Holohan said: “We expect to see more deaths – we are only at the beginning of the curve. This is an infection that is going to increase. It is different to pandemics experienced before and the mortality we expect will be higher than it would be with seasonal flu.

“We predict the deaths will be around 1% of those diagnosed. The number of cases continues to increase and so will deaths.

“We have to prepare properly for the eventuality that might arise.

“We are concerned about outbreaks in nursing homes and healthcare centres because those people are very vulnerable.”