There are now 122 COVID-19 cases in Kerry – up five since yesterday (Tuesday), and sadly 25 people have since died.

365 new confirmed cases in Ireland have been revealed as at 1pm today, and there’s an overall total of 6,074 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

Of the 25 that died:

• 13 deaths are located in the east, eight in the north, two in the south and two in the west of the country
  ·        It includes 10 females and 15 males
  ·        the median age of today’s reported deaths is 80
  ·        18 people were reported as having underlying health conditions

  Today’s data from the HPSC, as of midnight, April 6 (5,981 cases), reveals:
  ·        46% are male and 53% are female, with 299 clusters involving 1,288 cases
  ·        the median age of confirmed cases is 48 years
  ·        1,472 cases (25%) have been hospitalised
  ·        Of those hospitalised, 224 cases have been admitted to ICU
  ·        1,568 cases are associated with healthcare workers
  ·        Dublin has the highest number of cases at 3,268, (55% of all cases) followed by Cork with 431 cases (7%)
  ·        Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 67%, close contact accounts for 23%, travel abroad accounts for 10%

  The National Public Health Emergency Team noted today’s guidance from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) that the risk of severe disease associated with COVID-19 in the EU and UK is considered moderate for the general population and very high for vulnerable groups.

The ECDC also advised that it is currently too early to start lifting community and physical distancing measures and that Member States should continue to adopt a public health based approach of testing and contact tracing.

“Ireland continues to follow ECDC guidance with regards to testing, contact tracing and the implementation of community measures such as physical distancing and cocooning,” Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said.

“This is the most effective way we have of slowing down the spread of this virus and saving lives. Our public health guidance is under constant review and the National Public Health Emergency Team will meet again on Friday morning to review the impact of ongoing measures.”