The Department of Health has confirmed 234 new cases of COVID-19 in the Republic of Ireland.
Twenty-two of the new cases are in Galway, with just Dublin and Donegal recording more cases today.
The total number of cases in Galway not including today’s figure stands at 628.
Two more deaths related to the coronavirus have also been confirmed in the Republic.
Sixteen people with Covid-19 are in ICU, and there are 90 people with the disease in hospital.
“The single most important thing that people all across the country need to do now is to reduce their social contacts,” said Dr Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer.
“We all need to cut down on discretionary social activities. Meeting fewer people means fewer opportunities for the virus to transmit.
“Please prioritise who you choose to meet and try to keep your social network as small as possible.”
Dr Una Fallon, Director of Public Health, HSE Midlands, said that COVID-19 is highly contagious, and people can be infectious without symptoms.
“If you are a close contact of a confirmed case please follow the guidelines on hse.ie and restrict your movements for 14 days – do not go to school or work, do not have visitors to your home, do not go to the shop or pharmacy unless it is absolutely necessary,” she said.
“And to everyone, I would urge that you reduce the number of people you are in close contact with.”
Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer, HSE, said: “Earlier in this pandemic, we succeeded in flattening the curve through a common purpose and solidarity.
“Now, we face the more difficult task of suppressing the virus again while trying to protect education and healthcare settings.”
- 115 are men / 119 are women
- 68% are under 45 years of age
- 49% are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case
- 34 cases have been identified as community transmission
- 103 cases are in Dublin, 30 in Donegal, 22 in Galway, 21 in Cork, 13 in Wicklow, 12 in Louth, 9 in Kildare, 8 in Meath, with the remaining 17 spread across 10 counties.
