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The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today (Saturday) been informed that 41 people diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ireland have died, and there’s 778 new diagnosed cases.

In Kerry the figure now stands at 256.

There have now been 571 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

With the latest figures from Germany included, there are now a total of 14,758 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

Today’s data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Thursday, April 16 (13,746 cases) reveals:

• 44% are male and 55% are female, with 454 clusters involving 2,964 cases
• The median age of confirmed cases is 48 years
• 2,168 cases (16%) have been hospitalised
• Of those hospitalised, 296 cases have been admitted to ICU
• 3,573 cases are associated with healthcare workers
• Dublin has the highest number of cases at 6,934 (50% of all cases) followed by Cork with 979 cases (7%)
• Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 52%, close contact accounts for 43%, travel abroad accounts for 5%

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: "This week the National Public Health Emergency Team emphasised the importance of testing in interrupting the transmission of COVID-19 in community residential settings including nursing homes.

“This sector remains a priority for our focused attention and we will continue to monitor and support them through this outbreak.”