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10 more patients diagnosed with COVID-19 have died

200 new confirmed cases nationally

53 cases of COVID-19 in Kerry

Total of 46 COVID-19 related deaths and 2,615 confirmed cases in Ireland.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has today been informed that 10 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ireland have died, eight male and two female.

Six deaths are located in the east of the country, three in the northwest of the country and one in the south. The median age of today’s reported deaths is 77. There have now been 46 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been informed of 200 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland, as at 1pm, Sunday, March 29.

There are now 2,615 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

The HSE is now working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread.

Today’s data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Friday, March 27 (2,216 cases), reveals:
· 51% are male and 48% are female, with 103 clusters involving 379 cases
· the median age of confirmed cases is 47 years
· 564 cases (26%) have been hospitalised
· of those hospitalised, 77 cases have been admitted to ICU
· 506 cases are associated with healthcare workers
· Dublin has the highest number of cases at 1,233 (56% of all cases) followed by Cork with 208 cases (9%)
· of those for whom transmission status is known, community transmission accounts for 51%, close contact accounts for 24%, travel abroad accounts for 25%

"Today, we are informed of a further 10 deaths,” Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said.
“Our condolences are with the family and friends of all patients who have died as a result of COVID-19.

“While we continue to build our capacity for intensive care, our strategy remains to prevent people from needing intensive care in the first place.

“We know the virus will not survive if we prevent it from passing among ourselves. The enhanced restrictions announced on Friday aim to slow down and restrict the spread of the virus.”

“We are asking everyone to embrace the new restrictions and follow public health advice to stay home and restrict your movements for the next two weeks. It is in all our hands to interrupt the spread of this virus.”

Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, noted that attendance at blood donation clinics is permitted at this time.

“I welcome the measures taken by the Irish Blood Transfusion Board to implement social distancing at their clinics and to maintain the blood supply.

“3,000 blood donations are needed every week to meet demand and the ready availability of this blood for transfusion is vital to the daily treatment of patients in our hospitals.”