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With the reproduction number between 0.5 - 0.6, Ireland has achieved its goal of suppressing the spread of the disease, according Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, this evening (Thursday).

His words come as the Health Protection Surveillance Centre informed that a total of 29 people with COVID-19 have died today.

“We have achieved our goal of suppressing the spread of the disease, it was not easy for anyone but there is no question that our collective effort has saved lives,” he said.

“Now we look to the pattern of COVID-19 going forward, as we attempt to ease restrictions. These weeks are just as important as the first weeks of our response. Our behaviours are crucial in maintaining our progress and keeping the reproduction number below 1.”

This evening’s figures have revealed that there have now been a total 1,403* COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of 11am, the HPSC has been notified of 137 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 22,385 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

There have been no new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Kerry, which remains at 302.

Today’s data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Tuesday 5 May (22,186 cases), reveals:

• 57% are female and 43% are male
• the median age of confirmed cases is 49 years
• 2,891 cases (13%) have been hospitalised
• Of those hospitalised, 376 cases have been admitted to ICU
• 6,498 cases are associated with healthcare workers
• Dublin has the highest number of cases at 10,840 (49% of all cases) followed by Kildare with 1,302 cases (6%) and then Cork with 1,197 cases (5%)
• Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 62%, close contact accounts for 35%, travel abroad accounts for 3%

Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said; “The number of ICU admissions, new cases and deaths is now falling and has been for over a week. This is driven by a reduction of transmission of the virus in the community and reinforces the importance of our behaviours going forward.”

*Validation of data at the HPSC has resulted in the denotification of 1 death. The figure of 1,403 deaths reflects this.