Public health chiefs concerned at patterns of COVID clusters in households as cases pass 10,000 in Limerick

PUBLIC health chiefs in Limerick have expressed concern about patterns of COVID-19 clusters in households, as more than 10,000 cases of the virus were recorded across the Treaty city, and county.

The majority of infections in the region were recorded in January and February this year, the Department of Public Health Mid-West stated.

“Since the B117 strain has become the dominant COVID-19 variant in Ireland, we have noticed a concerning pattern where single cases are rapidly leading to whole household outbreaks. In many instances, we are seeing household outbreaks spread to extended family, workplaces, and further community clusters,” it said.

“In some cases, we have seen sections of housing estates and a number of apartments within the same building becoming infected due to social mixing. However, we have noticed that the wearing of masks and distancing measures within households has helped prevent the spread of infection.“

Dr Mai Mannix, Director of Public Health Mid-West, warned that “household transmission is becoming a significant factor COVID-19 infection in the Mid-West region”.

“A large number of new clusters are arising out of regular household visits, across all age groups. Whether it’s having tea at a friend’s or watching a sports game together at the weekend, all forms of social contact in a household and can and will lead to outbreaks amid current continued community transmission,” Dr Mannix revealed.

She advised the public that, “if you or a member of your household is showing mild symptoms, please contact your GP to consider booking a test” and that, “by getting swabbed, you could save a life”.

According to latest figures, as of February 16th, there were 16,688 COVID-19 cases recorded across the midwest, including 10,034 in Limerick; 4,442 in Clare; and 2,212 in North Tipperary.

The Department said however that, overall the incidence rate in the region “has fallen considerably since Level 5 restrictions were implemented in early January”.

“At the peak of the Third Wave, there were 901 new cases on January 2, which dropped to 23 new cases on February 2.”

However it warned it was “still managing serious outbreaks in long-term care facilities and workplaces” and, “the new variant seems to be more transmissible with higher numbers of infections from each new case”.