Coronavirus Ireland: 13 deaths and 738 new Covid-19 cases as anti-lockdown protest held in Dublin

Trouble flared with Gardai forced to baton charge crowds who had gathered at St Stephen’s Green.

Anti-Lockdown protesters and gardai outside St. Stephens Green

Edel Hughes and Neil Fetherstonhaugh

February 27 2021 05:26 PM

A further 13 people have died after contracting coronavirus while 738 new Covid-19 cases were recorded.

It brings the death toll to 4,313 while the total number of confirmed cases now stands at 218,980*.

Validation of data at the Health Protection Surveillance Centre resulted in the denotification of nine confirmed cases. The total figure reflects this adjustment.

Ten people died in February, one in January, one death occurred in October and the date of one death remains under investigation.

The ages of the deceased range from 55 to 92 with a median age of 81.

A total of 550 patients are in hospital with the illness, 135 of whom are in ICU. There were 27 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

Of the cases notified today:

356 are men / 378 are women
71% are under 45 years of age
The median age is 32 years old
311 are in Dublin, 54 in Limerick, 36 in Cork, 34 in Offaly, 33 in Donegal and the remaining 270 cases are spread across 20 other counties

As of February 24, 391,355 doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland.

A total of 254,948 people have received their first dose while 136,407 have received two doses.

The latest figures come as hundreds gathered this afternoon for an anti-lockdown protest in Dublin city centre.

Trouble flared with Gardai forced to baton charge crowds who had gathered at St Stephen’s Green.

There was a tense atmosphere as Gardai formed ranks at the top of Grafton Street to stop protesters from gaining entry to St Stephen's Green park, which the Office of Public Works had closed on instructions from An Garda Síochána.

Anti-Lockdown protesters and gardai outside St. Stephens Green.

Hundreds of people gathered for today's protest.

Some protestors gathered in front of Garda lines taunting them and shouting “You should be ashamed of yourselves” and “Why don't you do the Jerusalema dance?"

Some other men shouted abuse at the Gardai and warned them to be careful.

“What are you going to do?", they shouted at the Gardai.

Gardai remained in position until bottles, fireworks, cans and bottles and other items began to be thrown at them.

At a signal from senior Gardai, officers rushed forward with batons raised while shouting, "get back, get back" as the crowd was forced back down Grafton Street.