THE REPUBLIC of Ireland has recorded five days in a row with no deaths from Covid-19.
The positive news comes as the Government is preparing to discuss new recommendations from the Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) following a huge spike in cases.
But while the ominous rise in cases-- which has resulted in the 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 people tripled in recent weeks, currently standing at 22-- is worrying, the death rate thankfully remains low.
Yesterday, there were 56 new cases of the virus identified in Ireland, a drop from the 200 cases confirmed on Saturday-- a figure which had not been seen since early May.
The new figures brings the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases to 27,313.
26 of the new cases were identified in Kildare, which remains under localised lockdown following a surge in cases linked to outbreaks in meat and food processing factories.
13 were identified in Dublin and the remaining 17 cases are in Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Laois, Longford, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Westmeath and Wicklow.
The death toll remains at 1,774-- unchanged for five days.
Earlier this week, Ireland's Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn issued a stark warning against complacency as the number of new cases remains high.
Dr Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, said "this pandemic isn't over just because we are tired of living with it". (Photo: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie)"The phased reopening of the country has afforded people the opportunity to socialise with each other again," Dr Glynn told a press briefing on Sunday.
"However, some are doing this recklessly and undermining the efforts of the majority of people around the country who are following public health advice.
"This cannot continue," he said.
"This pandemic isn’t over just because we are tired of living with it."
Dr Glynn's comments came following a video which went viral on social media showing a bar in Dublin ignoring social distancing rules, with a staff member pouring alcohol directly into people's mouths from a bottle.
Outbreaks in factories remains the biggest cause of the outbreaks and clusters, however-- the latest being a mushroom plant in County Tipperary which has confirmed that up to 29 of their staff members have tested positive for the disease.
