There has been no increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases in Kerry for the second day running, which remains at 268.

Nationally, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today (Wednesday) been informed that 49 people diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ireland have died.

There have now been 769* laboratory confirmed COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of 1pm Tuesday, the HPSC has been notified of 631 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 16,671 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

Today’s data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Monday, April 20 (15,871 cases), reveals:

• 56% are female and 44% are male
• the median age of confirmed cases is 48 years
• 2,387 cases (15%) have been hospitalised
• Of those hospitalised, 322 cases have been admitted to ICU
• 4,393 cases are associated with healthcare workers
• Dublin has the highest number of cases at 7,905 (50% of all cases) followed by Cork with 1,077 cases (7%)
• Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 61%, close contact accounts for 35%, travel abroad accounts for 4%

As of midnight Tuesday, April 21, the HPSC has been informed of 302 clusters in residential care settings, 179 of which are in nursing homes. Of the 769 deaths in laboratory confirmed cases, 412 are associated with residents of residential care settings, of which 348 are associated with nursing home settings.

“Testing is a key element to Ireland’s response to COVID-19,” Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said.

“NPHET has consistently highlighted the importance of testing so that we can track the spread of the disease, reduce and contain its spread.

“As part of understanding the testing landscape, NPEHT requested that HIQA undertake a Health Technology Assessment of alternative diagnostic testing methods for detecting COVID-19.”