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There has been a further six cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in Kerry and 17 deaths nationally since yesterday (Monday), with the total number of cases now at 3,235 across Ireland.

In Kerry, the figure now stands at 66 - up six, while the national figure has risen by 325, since yesterday.

The breakdown includes:

• Eight deaths located in the east, three in the south, three in the north-west and three in the west of the country
• Patients included four females and 13 males
• Median age of today’s reported deaths is 84
• Eight patients were reported as having underlying health conditions

To date, 30,213 tests have been carried out in laboratories across the country, as of midnight, Monday, March 30.

Over the past week, the positivity rate for tests carried out increased from 6% to 15%, as per the objective of our new case definition.

Today’s data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Sunday, March 29 (2,677 cases), reveals:

• 49% are male and 49% are female, with 118 clusters involving 494 cases
• 22% of clusters located in private houses, 20% located in nursing homes and 18% located in hospitals
• Median age of confirmed cases is 47 years
• 703 cases (26%) have been hospitalised
• Of those hospitalised, 113 cases have been admitted to ICU
• 647 cases are associated with healthcare workers
• Dublin has the highest number of cases at 1,487 (55% of all cases) followed by Cork with 238 cases (9%)
• Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 51%, close contact accounts for 26%, travel abroad accounts for 23%

The National Public Health Emergency Team met today (Tuesday) and made the following recommendations;

• To focus contact tracing on suspect cases within prioritised groups. The HPSC to update guidance to GPs and contact tracing teams.
• Contact tracing to encompass the period from 48 hours prior to the onset of symptoms given the risk of asymptomatic transmission.
• In response to infections in long term residential care (nursing homes, disability and mental health) and homecare settings NPHET will work with the HSE to identify a number of measures which can be taken to strengthen support to staff and providers of nursing home care.

“The measures that we have recommended today should significantly enhance the preparedness and response to cases and outbreaks in nursing homes and other residential settings,” Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said.

“As we have said from the beginning our efforts must be focused on protecting the most vulnerable to COVID-19 and these recommendations announced today seek to achieve this.”

Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said that as the number of cases increase we are getting a better picture of our experience of this virus in our community.

“Today we are providing more information on cases in healthcare workers and deaths. We will continue to provide more details as reliable data emerges.”