Nine lives lost in the Republic, while North mark first day since March with no Coronavirus deaths

A total of nine people with COVID-19 have died bringing the death toll to 1,615, authorities in the Republic announced today. The sad news came after no new deaths were reported over a 24 hour period yesterday in the south. Today, for the first time since March there were no new deaths reported north of the Border over a 24 hour period.

While the news was widely welcomed the North's health minister Robin Swann sounded a note of caution.

"Covid-19 is still infecting people in our community," Minister Swann warned. "Sadly, there will be more lives lost in the days and week ahead."

A break down of the latest figures in the Republic show that as of midnight Monday, May 25 the HPSC has been notified of 37 confirmed cases of COVID-19 bringing the total to 24,735 for confirmed cases in the Republic.

Today’s data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Sunday 24 May (24,629 cases), reveals that in County Cavan there were 827 confirmed cases and in County Monaghan 503 confirmed cases, which represents an increase of two on the previous day in each of the two counties.

Looking nationally, of those 24,629 cases, 57% are female and 43% are male; the median age of confirmed cases is 48 years; 3,233 cases (13%) have been hospitalised and of those hospitalised, 395 cases have been admitted to ICU. A total of 7,852 cases are associated with healthcare workers. Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 59%, close contact accounts for 38%, travel abroad accounts for 3%.

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “As of midnight Monday 25 May, 325,795 tests have been carried out. Over the past week, 30,169 tests were carried out and of these 633 were positive, giving a positivity rate of 2.1%.

“NPHET will meet on Thursday 28th May where further consideration will be given to broadening the case definition.”