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49 further deaths, 631 new cases of coronavirus confirmed in Ireland

A FURTHER 49 people have lost their lives after contracting coronavirus, the Department of Health have confirmed.

Of the 49 patients, 26 women and 18 men with a median age of 87, 33 are reported as having had underlying health conditions.

Their sad passing brings the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Ireland to 769; the Department of Health report that 10 deaths have been de-notified from earlier figures.

Of the 769 people who have passed away after contracting the virus, 386 died in a hospital setting, with 50 deaths occurring in Intensive Care Units.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC) have also been notified of an additional 631 confirmed cases, bringing the Republic's total to 16,671.

As of midnight on Tuesday, 21 April, the HSPC have been informed of 302 'clusters'-- three cases or more-- of coronavirus cases in residential care settings, 179 of which are in nursing homes.

Of the 769 people who are confirmed to have died from coronavirus, 412 were residents of residential care settings-- 348 of which were nursing homes.

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said:

"Testing is a key element to Ireland’s response to COVID-19.

“NPHET has consistently highlighted the importance of testing so that we can track the spread of the disease, reduce and contain its spread.

“As part of understanding the testing landscape, NPHET requested that HIQA undertake a Health Technology Assessment of alternative diagnostic testing methods for detecting COVID-19.”

Dr Máirín Ryan, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Health Technology Assessment, HIQA, said:

"We have identified a range of diagnostic tests, both in development and already commercialised, that will need to be reviewed as part of a comprehensive quality assurance programme before being adopted as part of a national testing programme.

“The assessment has confirmed that Ireland’s current test, the real-time RT-PCR, remains the ‘gold standard’ test for detecting and confirming COVID-19 cases.

"HIQA continues to monitor and assess evidence on alternative diagnostic testing methods for COVID-19 and will report to NPHET on an ongoing basis.”

See More: Coronavirus, Covid-19