Officials Announce 16 Further Coronavirus-Related Deaths And 266 New Cases

The Department of Health has announced 16 further coronavirus-related deaths, taking the toll to 1,319.

There have also been 266 new confirmed cases reported, taking the total to 21,772.

As of midnight on Saturday, some 58% of the confirmed cases in Ireland were female and 42% were male.

Nearly one-quarter (6,211) of the confirmed cases were healthcare workers.

Dr Tony Holohan at today's COVID-19 press briefing. Picture by: Rory Walsh

Some 2,840 cases had been hospitalised – 13% of the total. Of those, 364 people had been admitted to intensive care.

Dublin accounts for 49% of the country’s cases with 10,561, followed by Kildare with 1,268 and Cork with 1,175.

Some 63% of the cases were picked up in the community in Ireland while 34% caught the virus off a previously diagnosed case and 3% were known to have travelled abroad.

The @hpscireland has today been informed that a total of 16 people with COVID-19 have died.

There have now been a total 1,319 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.#COVID19ireland

— MerrionStreet.ie #StayAtHome (@merrionstreet) May 4, 2020

It comes after the HSE has recorded the lowest daily number of COVID-19 patients in Ireland’s hospitals for roughly three weeks.

There are 665 patients being treated for the virus in hospital. There are 93 people in intensive care – down from 160 at the start of April.

Meanwhile, the Mental Health Commission warned of “significant inconsistencies” in the way staff are being tested for COVID-19.

The commission said it contacted mental health services across the country and found that testing was planned at some, while others had yet to hear anything.

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·Of those hospitalised, 364 cases have been admitted to ICU

·6,211 cases are associated with healthcare workers

·Dublin has the highest number of cases at 10,561 (49% of all cases) followed by Kildare with 1,268 cases (6%) and then Cork with 1,175 cases (6%)@hpscireland

— MerrionStreet.ie #StayAtHome (@merrionstreet) May 4, 2020

Internationally there was some good news, with the announcement of “ground-breaking research” which uncovered an antibody which may prevent COVID-19 from infecting human cells.

Meanwhile, a new COVID-19 antibody test, said to be 99.8% accurate, could soon be available in Ireland.

File photo of a pint poured in Kehoes bar, 15-03-2003. Image: Haydn West/PA Archive/PA Images

Finally, Irish publicans  have set out a series of “radical proposals” aimed at getting the country’s pubs open sooner than planned by the Government.

They are pushing for pubs to be allowed to open at the same time as restaurants and cafés.

They measures, aimed at protecting public health after they open their doors, include:

• Sitting, standing, ordering, paying or drinking at the bar itself will be banned.
• Pubs will only serve customers seated at tables.
• No more than four people per every 10 square metres in the premises.
• A maximum of 6 people would be permitted at any one table.
• Customers will be required to use hand sanitiser upon entry.
• All customers must remain seated.
• Staff will be fully trained in the new procedures.
• Staff will also be asked to maintain a safe distance from customers when taking orders and to wash their hands thoroughly every 30 minutes.
• Pubs will make full use of outdoor spaces to support social distancing.
• New procedures for the safe use of toilet facilities, potentially including limits on the number of people using them at a time.
• No live music or DJs.
• The Gardaí and the HSE given the power to close any business flouting public health guidelines.