COVID-19: One further death and new 506 cases confirmed in Ireland

The Department of Health has confirmed 506 new cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. This brings the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 40,086.

One further death was confirmed in Ireland today. This brings the death toll from COVID to 1,817.

The country is currently under the level 3 restrictions which was announced by the government earlier.

The government yesterday announced that the Level 3 restrictions would take effect nationwide from midnight today.

Of the cases notified today:

• 240 are men, 265 are women
• 64% are under 45 years of age
• 39% are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case
• 59 cases have been identified as community transmission

The capital registered 91 new virus cases. Of the remaining: 76 in Cork, 53 in Donegal, 42 in Meath and the remaining 244 cases are located across 21 counties.

There are currently 159 people hospitalised with Covid-19, including 25 in ICU. 

HSE CEO Paul Reid said said the trends in the spread of COVID-19 were of great concern to the HSE and that the hospital system in Ireland is facing a serious challenge.