10 more people in the Republic of Ireland have died after contracting coronavirus, the Department of Health has confirmed.
The patients, eight men and two women, sadly passed away in hospital following a battle with Covid-19.
The Department of Health indicate that six of the patients were based in the east of the country, three in the northwest and one in the south, with the median age of those who died at 77 years old.
Their passing brings the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in the Republic to 46.
200 new cases of Covid-19 were yesterday confirmed in the Republic, according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 2,615.
In Northern Ireland, 21 people have died after contracting the illness, with 410 confirmed cases.
There are 3,025 confirmed cases on the island of Ireland.
Speaking yesterday on the new figures, Chief Medical Officer for the Department of Health, Tony Holohan, said:
"Today, we are informed of a further 10 deaths. Our condolences are with the family and friends of all patients who have died as a result of COVID-19.
“While we continue to build our capacity for intensive care, our strategy remains to prevent people from needing intensive care in the first place.
“We know the virus will not survive if we prevent it from passing among ourselves. The enhanced restrictions announced on Friday aim to slow down and restrict the spread of the virus.
“We are asking everyone to embrace the new restrictions and follow public health advice to stay home and restrict your movements for the next two weeks. It is in all our hands to interrupt the spread of this virus.”
Amid some confusion surrounding the topic, Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, noted that attendance at blood donation clinics is permitted at this time:
"I welcome the measures taken by the Irish Blood Transfusion Board to implement social distancing at their clinics and to maintain the blood supply.
“3,000 blood donations are needed every week to meet demand and the ready availability of this blood for transfusion is vital to the daily treatment of patients in our hospitals.”
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