The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today (Monday) been informed that a total of 18 people with COVID-19 have died, of which 17 were laboratory confirmed.

There have now been a total of 1,102* COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of 11am today (Monday), the HPSC has been notified of 386 new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

There is now a total of 19,648 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

In Kerry, there’s now 288 confirmed cases – an increase of 11.

Today’s data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Saturday, April 25 (19,095 cases), reveals:

•        57% are female and 42% are male
  ·        the median age of confirmed cases is 49 years
  ·        2,625 cases (14%) have been hospitalised
  ·        Of those hospitalised, 353 cases have been admitted to ICU
  ·        5,204 cases are associated with healthcare workers
  ·        Dublin has the highest number of cases at 9,532 (50% of all cases) followed by Kildare with 1,127 cases (6%) and then Cork with 1,125 cases (6%)
  ·        Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 63%, close contact accounts for 33%, travel abroad accounts for 4%

  “We have always made it clear that there are certain things that we need to be satisfied with prior to recommending any change in current restrictions,” Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said.

“The most important one is that the incidence rate of the virus needs to be as low as possible in terms its transmission in the community and within community and residential settings. In addition, the impact of the disease on rates of mortality and hospitalisations including admissions to intensive care units also needs to be at a very low level.

“Improvements are still needed in these important measures.”

Research conducted on behalf of the Department of Health shows that 81% of the population think that the Government reaction to the current COVID-19 outbreak is appropriate and 84% of people feel they have adapted well to changes.

The research also shows that level of personal worry around COVID-19 remains high.
The nationally representative online survey of 1,270 adults conducted today, which is conducted twice weekly, reveals that:

• People are equally worried about the health of family and friends and the economy at 3.8 out of 5 (where 5 is extremely worried)
  ·        People are less worried about their personal finance and personal health at 3.0 and 2.9 out of 5 respectively

  *Validation of data at the HPSC has resulted in the denotification of 3 deaths. The figure of 1,102 deaths reflects this.