The total figure of confirmed cases for the Republic of Ireland now stands at 4,273.
This afternoon’s Department of Health Briefing confirmed that 22 more people have died as a result of Covid-19 in the Republic of Ireland, the biggest-single day increase since the virus arrived.
The median age of the 22 who have died is 80.
The number of confirmed diagnoses has increased by 424, which is the biggest single-day increase of that nature.
The median age of all those diagnosed is 48, and the median age of all those who have died is 82.
Today (3 April) also marked the biggest increase of deaths over a single day in Northern Ireland, where 12 more people were confirmed dead. The total number of cases in the north of Ireland is 904, giving an all-island total of 5,177.
Dr. Tony Holohan, the Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health, said: “We are concerned with the number of clusters identified in nursing homes. We have identified a range of measures, working with the HSE. We need to see continuous actions being taken to reduce the risk of transmission in nursing home and long-term residential facilities.”
Dr. Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “We are now facing into the end of week one of new measures. It has been a tough adjustment but these efforts save lives. We will continue to protect vulnerable groups against this virus, by staying home and following public health advice. These efforts result in lives saved.”
All those over 70 are advised to cocoon themselves.
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