By far the biggest single-day increase in Covid-19 deaths.
Department of Health officials this evening confirmed that 36 more people have died due to the coronavirus in the Republic of Ireland. This sharp jump represents more than double the 16 who were confirmed dead yesterday, and takes the Republic’s death toll to 210.
The median age of those who have died most recently was 81, with most of the deaths coming in the east of the country once again.
Additionally, 345 more cases have been confirmed, taking the total figure in the Republic of Ireland to 5,709. As of today, 42,484 tests have been carried out.
Three people were confirmed dead in the last 24 hours in Northern Ireland, meaning that the current island-wide death toll stands at 283.
Across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, there are now 6,964 confirmed cases on the island of Ireland.
With Easter weekend on the horizon, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) urged people adhere to social distancing rules and to avoid any non-essential travel. In particular, those with holiday homes have been urged to remain in their family homes over the long weekend.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar echoed this call on Twitter, where he wrote: “Please do not visit a holiday home or caravan park this Easter weekend. The spread of the virus is slowing but people travelling could give it a boost – spreading it and seeding it in areas unaffected so far. Stay at home and #FlattenTheCurve.”
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