126 new cases of coronavirus confirmed in Ireland

This brings the total number of cases to 683 in the Republic of Ireland.

126 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Ireland on Friday night (20 March). This brings the total number of cases in the Republic of Ireland to 683, an increase from 557 on Thursday. At a briefing on Friday night, the Department of Health announced that 12 people diagnosed with Covid-19 have been admitted to intensive care units. Three people in Ireland have died as a result of the virus. Slightly over 50 per cent of the cases in the Republic of Ireland are in Dublin, followed by Cork at 15 per cent, Limerick and Wicklow have 3 per cent each. 40 per cent of the cases (137 people) are community acquired, while 39 per cent are travel related. 114 cases associated with healthcare workers. Monaghan remains the only county without a confirmed case thus far. The median age of cases so far is 44. Chief Medical Officer Doctor Tony Holohan said on Friday night: "Now is not the time for complacency. Every citizen who is practicing social distancing, who is taking precautions to limit the spread of this virus, is doing their country a service." People in Ireland have recently been urged to treat each other like "pariahs" by health expert Doctor Catherine Motherway.