There were four additional deaths related to COVID-19 reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team today, along with 442 new cases.
Of the cases notified today, 21 are in Galway, the fifth highest level in the country behind Meath, Donegal, Cork, and Dublin.
Despite serious concerns raised during the week, NPHET did not recommend raising Galway or any other county to Level 3 lockdown restrictions today.
However, stricter household limitations on gatherings have been recommended, changing the guideline to a maximum of six people from just one additional household be allowed in any visit.
There have now been a total of 36,597 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland, and the pandemic has claimed 1,806 lives.
Validation of data at the HPSC has resulted in the denotification of 2 deaths, which is reflected in the national total.
There are 122 people in hospital with COVID-19 today, of which 20 are in the Intensive Care Unit. In the past week 88,533 tests have been carried out, with a positivity rate of 3.1%.
Of the cases notified today:
- 225 are men and 217 are women
- 67% are under 45 years of age
- 54% are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case
- 69 cases have been identified as community transmission
- 170 cases are in Dublin, 47 in Cork, 28 in Donegal, 23 in Meath, 21 in Galway, 20 in Monaghan, 14 in Clare, 12 in Roscommon, 11 in Laois, 11 in Longford, 10 in Cavan, 10 in Limerick, 10 in Tipperary, 9 in Kildare, 8 in Wicklow, 5 in Louth and 5 in Wexford with the remaining 28 cases in 9 counties
The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread.
The COVID-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of COVID-19 in the community.