COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland

For Northern Ireland, see COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland.

COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland
Monsoon fashion shop in Grafton Street
Deserted M50 motorway near Castleknock
A COVID-19 street safety sign in Douglas, Cork
Wash your hands window in Dame Street Boarded up
COVID-19 social distancing sign in Carpenterstown
Clockwise, from top-left:

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Weekly rate: Positive decrease 7.9 (5 October 2024)[1] (per 100,000 people)
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationRepublic of Ireland
First outbreakWuhan, Hubei, China
Index caseDublin
Arrival date29 February 2020 (4 years, 8 months, 1 week and 6 days ago)
DateAs of 5 October 2024
Confirmed cases1,749,953 (+407)[2][3]
Hospitalised cases
  • Positive decrease 198 (–7) (active)[4]
  • 73,143 (total as of Week 20, 2024)[4]
[5]
Critical cases
  • Positive decrease 13 (–1) (active)[4]
  • 2,972 (total as of Week 20, 2024)[4]
[6]
Deaths
9,785 (+0)[7][3]
Fatality ratePositive decrease 0.56%
Test positivity rate
  • Positive decrease 9.7%[4] (31 January 2024)
  • Positive decrease 3.3%[8] (Week 11, 2024)
Vaccinations
  • 12,744,694[9] (doses administered)
  • 4,107,865[9] (at least one dose)
  • 3,819,227[9] (second dose)
  • 4,817,602[9] (boosters)
Government website
Gov.ie – COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

The COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland is a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In Ireland, it has resulted in 1,749,953 cases and 9,785 deaths, as of 5 October 2024.[10][3]

89.4% of those who died were aged 65 or over and 76% had underlying illnesses[11] with a median age of death at 82 years old.[12][13] During 2020 and 2021, the country had one of the world's lowest excess death rates, which is an overall indicator of the pandemic's impact, at an estimated 12.5 deaths per 100,000 population.[14]

The virus first reached the country in late February 2020[15] and cases were soon confirmed in all counties.[16][17] The government first introduced public health and economic measures to mitigate its impact by shutting schools, childcare facilities and cultural institutions in March 2020.[18] Large gatherings were cancelled, including St Patrick's Day festivities.[19][20] On 27 March, the first stay-at-home order banned all non-essential travel and contact with others.[21][22][23] People were made to keep apart in public, and those most at risk were told to cocoon.[24] The Oireachtas passed an emergency act giving the state far-reaching powers to control the virus's spread,[25] and the Gardaí given powers to enforce the lockdown.[26]

The state's first lockdown in 2020 was the longest in Europe, especially for hospitality and retail.[27] It caused a severe recession[28] and an unprecedented rise in unemployment.[29] Infections and deaths dropped to low levels by June and restrictions were gradually lifted, while schools remained closed for summer break. Pubs that served food were allowed to reopen in late June. However, "wet" pubs, or pubs that do not serve food, could not reopen until September. Ireland had the longest closure of pubs compared to other countries in Europe.[30]

In October 2020, another statewide lockdown was imposed following a surge in cases, excluding schools.[31][32] There was another surge in late December 2020,[33] and on Christmas Eve, another statewide lockdown was imposed.[34] This was soon tightened to include schools, and was one of the strictest in the world.[35] The vaccination programme began on 29 December,[36][37] and has been praised as one of the most successful rollouts in the world.

In February 2021, the government imposed testing and quarantine rules on incoming travellers for the first time.[38] Infections fell sharply, and schools re-opened in March. The lockdown was gradually lifted from May, but unlike most of Europe, indoor hospitality remained shut.[39] Infections rose again in July due to the Delta variant but there were fewer deaths. Indoor hospitality reopened under strict rules, while vaccinations sped up.[40] Despite Ireland's high vaccination rate, there was another surge in late 2021 due to the Omicron variant, with record-breaking cases being reported. Proof of vaccination or non-infection became mandatory to enter most indoor venues, but the government imposed another curfew on indoor hospitality from 20 December. Cases fell sharply, and the majority of restrictions, including mandatory mask wearing and social distancing, were eased in January and February 2022.[41][42]

As well as the major strain on Ireland's healthcare service, the pandemic measures severely damaged Ireland's economy, disrupted education and had far-reaching impacts on society, including politics, religion, crime, the arts and sports. In May 2023, it was announced by the Director-General of the World Health Organization that COVID-19 was no longer a public health emergency of international concern.[43] In September 2023, in response to lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Irish government approved the establishment of a new health agency focused on infectious diseases, pandemic preparedness, and other emerging public health threats, based on recommendations from the Public Health Reform Expert Advisory Group.[44]

  1. ^ "Epidemiology of COVID-19 HPSC". Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).
  2. ^ "Epidemiology of COVID-19 in Ireland weekly reports - Health Protection Surveillance Centre". www.hpsc.ie. Retrieved 8 February 2024. (Total of 25,127 new cases from page 2 of the reports between Week 46, 2023 and Week 40, 2024) (Publication of this report has been paused during the summer until week 40/October 2024 - new cases/deaths etc still updated on the HPSC Respiratory Virus Notification Data Hub - added 30 May 2024)
  3. ^ a b c "Ireland 's COVID-19 Data Hub". Government of Ireland Gov.ie. Department of Health (Ireland).
  4. ^ a b c d e "Ireland's COVID-19 Data Hub – ICU, Acute Hospital & Testing Data". gov.ie. Department of Health.
  5. ^ "Epidemiology of COVID-19 in Ireland weekly reports - Health Protection Surveillance Centre". www.hpsc.ie. Retrieved 8 February 2024. (5,141 COVID-19 hospitalisations and 30 ICU admissions have been made between Week 46, 2023 and Week 20, 2024)
  6. ^ "Epidemiology of COVID-19 in Ireland weekly reports - Health Protection Surveillance Centre". www.hpsc.ie. Retrieved 8 February 2024. (5,141 COVID-19 hospitalisations and 30 ICU admissions have been made between Week 46, 2023 and Week 20, 2024)
  7. ^ "Epidemiology of COVID-19 in Ireland weekly reports - Health Protection Surveillance Centre". www.hpsc.ie. Retrieved 8 February 2024. (Total of 9,366 deaths on page 2 of the report for Week 45, 2023)
  8. ^ "Epidemiology of COVID-19 in Ireland weekly reports - Health Protection Surveillance Centre". www.hpsc.ie. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d "Ireland's COVID-19 Data Hub – Vaccinations". Health Service Executive (HSE). Department of Health.
  10. ^ "Epidemiology of COVID-19 in Ireland weekly reports - Health Protection Surveillance Centre". www.hpsc.ie. Retrieved 8 February 2024. (Total of 9,366 deaths on page 2 of the report for Week 45, 2023)
  11. ^ "Monthly Report on COVID-19 Deaths reported in Ireland". Health Protection Surveillance Centre. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  12. ^ Quann, Jack (2 April 2020). "COVID-19: Median age of Irish patients who die reaches 82". Newstalk. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  13. ^ Cullen, Paul (30 April 2020). "Nursing homes account for 50 per cent of coronavirus deaths in Ireland". The Irish Times.
  14. ^ Cullen, Paul (2 April 2022). "Covid-19: Ireland had one of lowest excess death rates in world, study finds". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  15. ^ "First case of coronavirus in Republic of Ireland". BBC News. 29 February 2020.
  16. ^ Cullen, Paul (22 March 2020). "Coronavirus cases now confirmed in every county in Ireland". The Irish Times. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  17. ^ MacNamee, Garreth (22 March 2020). "Every single county in Ireland now has at least one coronavirus case – here's a breakdown of where the virus is". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  18. ^ Leahy, Pat; Cullen, Paul; Lynch, Suzanne; Kelly, Fiach (12 March 2020). "Coronavirus: Schools, colleges and childcare facilities in Ireland to shut". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  19. ^ McGowran, Leigh (6 March 2020). "Coronavirus: St Patrick's parade cancelled in Stepaside Dublin for Public Health". Dublin Live. Retrieved 6 March 2020. "Letterkenny and Buncrana parades cancelled". Highland Radio. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020. "Sligo's St Patrick's Day Parade is cancelled". Ocean FM. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020. White, Dylan (6 March 2020). "Dungarvan's St Patrick's Day parade cancelled over coronavirus". Waterford Live. Retrieved 6 March 2020. Corcoran, Mary (6 March 2020). "Parades in Cork towns cancelled and postponed due to coronavirus concerns". The Echo. Retrieved 6 March 2020. "Irish St Patrick's Day parades off over coronavirus". BBC News. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  20. ^ Bowers, Shauna (20 January 2021). "St Patrick's Day parade cancelled for second year in a row due to Covid-19". The Irish Times. Retrieved 5 March 2021. O'Sullivan, Jennie; Halloran, Cathy; Kane, Conor (20 January 2021). "Cork, Limerick & Ennis cancel St Patrick's Day parades". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 5 March 2021. Burke, Ceimin (15 January 2021). "Taoiseach says St Patrick's Day parades won't take place this year". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 5 March 2021. McGlynn, Michelle; Heaney, Steven (20 January 2021). "Cork City Council confirm cancellation of St Patrick's Day Parade". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 5 March 2021. "Offaly Town Officially Cancels St. Patrick's Day Festivities". Midlands 103. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  21. ^ Carroll, Rory (27 March 2020). "'Stay home': Varadkar announces sweeping two-week lockdown". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  22. ^ "New measures to combat COVID-19 from midnight on 27 March 2020". whatenew.citizensinformation.ie. 27 March 2020. Archived from the original on 11 May 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  23. ^ "New restrictions: Exceptions for leaving your home". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 28 March 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  24. ^ O'Donnell, Orla (28 March 2020). "Explainer: What is cocooning, and who needs to do it?". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  25. ^ Kenny, Aisling (20 March 2020). "President Higgins signs emergency measures into law". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  26. ^ "Minister for Health Simon Harris signs regulations to give An Garda Síochána the power to enforce COVID-19 restrictions". Gov.ie. Department of Health. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  27. ^ Greevy, Ronan (19 November 2020). "Ireland had longest lockdown for pubs and restaurants in Europe – report". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  28. ^ "Ireland now officially in recession after largest ever quarterly GDP drop". TheJournal.ie
    Press Association. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  29. ^ Chance, David; McQuinn, Cormac; Walsh, Aoife (21 April 2020). "Coronavirus Ireland: Country set for deep recession as economy to shrink by 10pc and mass unemployment grows". Irish Independent.
  30. ^ Carroll, Rory (28 August 2020). "Ireland to extend Europe's longest pub lockdown as coronavirus cases rise". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  31. ^ Cite error: The named reference lockdown1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  32. ^ Cunningham, Paul; Bowers, Fergal (5 October 2020). "Covid-19: Govt approves Level 3 restrictions nationwide". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  33. ^ McQuinn, Cormac; O'Loughlin, Ciara (21 December 2020). "'We're clearly now in a third wave' – warning comes to protect loved ones as 727 Covid-19 cases confirmed today". Irish Independent. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  34. ^ "Ireland placed on Level 5 Restrictions of the Plan for Living with COVID-19 - with a number of specific adjustments". gov.ie. Department of the Taoiseach. 22 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  35. ^ "Ireland's level five lockdown is second toughest in the EU". The Sunday Times. 14 March 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  36. ^ "First batch of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine arrives in Ireland". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 26 December 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  37. ^ Cite error: The named reference 1stvaccine was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  38. ^ Ryan, Philip (4 February 2021). "People arriving from abroad now legally required to quarantine at home or face fine". Irish Independent. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  39. ^ Hosford, Paul; McGlynn, Michelle; Glennon, Nicole (27 June 2021). "Government may delay indoor dining to July 19, earliest". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  40. ^ Wilson, Jade (26 July 2021). "'Day of relief' as indoor hospitality reopens after some venues have been closed almost 500 days". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  41. ^ Cite error: The named reference freedom was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  42. ^ Michael, Neil (28 February 2022). "17,858 Covid cases over past three days as mandatory masks and social distancing come to an end". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  43. ^ "Statement on the fifteenth meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic". 6 May 2023. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  44. ^ Griffin, Niamh (6 September 2023). "Government approves new agency to prepare for public threats including pandemics". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 7 September 2023.