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For the first time since mid-March the numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases diagnosed in Ireland have fallen below the one hundred mark – figures from the Dept of Health this evening (Saturday) reveal.

According to Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, “the past nine weeks have been particularly difficult” and he also added that “today’s numbers give reassurance” going forward.

15 people with COVID-19 have died, the latest update from Health Protection Surveillance Centre today revealed and there have now been a total 1,533 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of 11am, the HPSC has been notified of 92 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 24,048 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

In Kerry, there was an increase of one case since yesterday, which now stands at 307.

Today’s data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Thursday, May 14 (23,879 cases), reveals:

• 57% are female and 42% are male
• the median age of confirmed cases is 48 years
• 3,092 cases (13%) have been hospitalised
• Of those hospitalised, 389 cases have been admitted to ICU
• 7,530 cases are associated with healthcare workers
• Dublin has the highest number of cases at 11,657 (49% of all cases) followed by Kildare with 1,357 cases (6%) and then Cork with 1,346 cases (6%)
• Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 60%, close contact accounts for 37%, travel abroad accounts for 3%

“Today is the first time we have seen the number of confirmed cases fall below one hundred since mid-March,” Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer in the Dept of Health said.

“While the past nine weeks have been particularly difficult for those cocooning, and for parents with young children, today’s numbers give reassurance that we have all learned and adopted new behaviours of handwashing, respiratory etiquette and social distance that will serve us well as we work together to reopen retail, business and society.”