Some time ago, the Irish Health Information and Quality Authority analysed the course of the outbreak in European countries. The data shows that Ireland's cumulative COVID-19 mortality rate per million population has been consistently below the EU-27 average. Compared to many European countries, Ireland has a lower number of new hospitalizations, a lower peak and a shorter duration than other European countries. The reasons for the analysis are Ireland's relatively young population and low population density, as well as the strictest restrictions and the highest vaccination rates in Europe. In an interview with Newstalk Radio, Professor Liam Fanning, professor of immunovirology at University Cork, said Ireland was currently in a "strong position" in the global COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 93 per cent of the population vaccinated, a significant proportion of whom had already received a third dose.
And Ireland's life sciences industry and biomedicine have played a huge role in responding to COVID-19, whether it's personal protective equipment, ventilators, diagnostic reagents, vaccines or other important medical supplies. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CSO), Ireland exported €162 billion worth of goods in 2020 due to a surge in pharmaceutical trade during the pandemic, 6.6% more than the previous year. Among them, chemicals and related products accounted for 65% of total exports of 106 billion euros; medical and pharmaceutical products exported 62 billion euros, accounting for 38% of total exports; and organic chemicals (including raw materials used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products in large quantities) exported 31 billion euros, accounting for 19% of total exports.
It is no surprise that ireland's healthcare and biopharmaceutical sectors have risen rapidly in the midst of the pandemic. Because of Ireland's pharmaceutical reputation internationally, Ireland has made outstanding progress in the development of biotechnology over the past 10 years. Of the 25 medicines sold in the world, 12 are made in Ireland. So it has also allowed more of the world's top biopharmaceutical companies to invest heavily in Ireland to meet the soaring demand for drugs and products related to the treatment of COVID-19.
Since the current round of spring epidemics in the mainland, the pressure of fighting the epidemic has been very great. Whether it is the impact on people's livelihood or the shortage of medical resources, it has led to a sharp increase in the number of searches involving "immigrants" on major online search platforms. Because food and clothing are worry-free and healthy, it is everyone's pursuit.