Latest national news updates on Friday 26th June.
Figures:
A further 3 people with Covid-19 have died in the Republic of Ireland.
11 new cases have been confirmed also.
It brings the death toll in this country to 1,730, while there have been 25,414 confirmed cases.
Chief medical officer Tony Holohan gave more information in the past few minutes.
It's the forth day in a row that the midlands has seen no increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases.
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases within the region remains at 1,420.
Offaly has a recorded total of 483 people with coronavirus while Laois figures remain at 265 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
672 people have been diagnosed with the virus in Westmeath.
Gardening:
Millennials have spent nearly twice as much as other generations tending to their gardens during lockdown.
People in the UK aged between 25 and 39 have been spending 235 euro on outside space - compared with a general average of 138 euro.
They also were the most likely age group to say their garden improved their overall wellbeing.
Driving testers:
A protest will get underway in Finglas in Dublin later over new regulations being brought in at driving test centres.
Driving instructors are unhappy they won't be allowed into the centre on Jamestown Road to use facilities like toilets.
Aidan Jordan from Jordan School of Motoring says they shouldn't be left outside:
It's good news that society & the economy restarts. In the HSE we must take a dual approach. Restoring services but protecting paitents and the public who use the health service. This will be very different than before. So please bear with us. #COVID19 @HSELive
— Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) June 26, 2020
Citywest covid-19 centre:
The HSE will not renew the lease on it's Covid-19 facility at Citywest Hotel in Dublin.
It has space for 17-hundred beds and is being used for self-isolation and as a step-down centre.
But the Health Minister confirmed last night that the agreement, that's estimated to cost around 20 million euro, would end in October when the lease is up.
United States:
US health official say 20 million people there could have contracted Covid-19.
It's 10 times higher than the official number of cases.
There are more than 2-point-4 million people who have tested positive for the disease there, while over 124,000 people have died.
Lifting restrictions:
An infectious diseases expert says travel should continue to be restricted from England and the US next month.
The government's decided to allow foreign travel to resume from some approved countries from July 9th.
The Taoiseach says a 'green list' of states will be put together - and these would be exempt from the 14-day quarantine.
People will also be allowed travel anywhere in Ireland from Monday.
Professor Sam McConkey, from the RCSI, says international travel should be re-introduced very cautiously:
During last night's announcement, the government also confirmed face coverings are to be mandatory on public transport.
Some self-employed people are to be given grants of up to 1,000 euro to help restart their businesses.
Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty also says the school meals programme will continue during the summer holidays:
Local figures:
It's the third day in a row that the midlands has seen no increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases.
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases within the region remains at 1,420.
Offaly has a recorded total of 483 people with coronavirus while Laois figures remain at 265 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
672 people have been diagnosed with the virus in Westmeath.
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