Coronavirus: One Death Reported By Health Department

Tony Holohan advising "we must do all we can to prevent a second wave".

Latest figures:

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that one person with COVID-19 has died.

There have now been a total 1,650* COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of midnight Sunday, 31 May, the HPSC has been notified of 77 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 25,062 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

One of the new cases is in the midlands. 

Westmeath is the only county in the region to record an increase in its number of cases. There are now 669 people diagnosed with the illness in the county. 

Offaly has had no new cases in the last five days. The total number of people in the county who have contracted the illness is 478.

Laois has had 259 patients diagnosed, with only one new case confirmed in the last 8 days.

The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread.

Today’s data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Saturday 30 May (24,985 cases), reveals:

· 57% are female and 43% are male

· The median age of confirmed cases is 48 years

· 3,286 cases (13%) have been hospitalised

· Of those hospitalised, 408 cases have been admitted to ICU

· 7,968 cases are associated with healthcare workers

· Dublin has the highest number of cases at 12,052 (48% of all cases) followed by Cork with 1,514 cases (6%) and then Kildare with 1,417 cases (6%)

· Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 39%, close contact accounts for 58%, travel abroad accounts for 2%

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer in the Department of Health, commented: “We have now had more than 25,000 cases of COVID-19 in Ireland and while 90% of patients have recovered, more than 3,285 people have been hospitalised and sadly 1,650 have died.

“COVID-19 is a new disease, for which we have no vaccine and we have no cure.

“As restrictions ease and we begin to resume social and economic life, we must do all we can to prevent a second wave.

“It is vital that we continue to practice hand and cough hygiene and social distancing, with the additional hygiene measure of face coverings in appropriate settings.

“It is important to give space to our vulnerable people when out and about. We must continue to do all we can to interrupt the spread of this virus.”

Water:

Irish Water says it's looking increasingly likely that a hosepipe ban will have to be put in place after an increased demand on water.

It says drought conditions are also deteriorating.

The utility says because of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis handwashing and hygiene remain critically important.

It's urging the public to choose handwashing over power washing, as domestic water usage increased by an average of 20%.

This is because more people were staying at home in response to the Covid-19 crisis.

Zoo:

Dublin Zoo will re-open tomorrow morning with new social distancing measures in place.

Visits will be seperated into two daily sessions, one morning slot and an afternoon slot.

Each group will be limited to 500 people, and must follow a new one-way system.

Tickets will not be sold at the gates, and must be pre-booked online.

Internal and enclosed areas, such as animal houses, will be closed.

Schools:

Some schools may open up early to operate a summer programme for children with special needs.

It's being reported some could be back at their desks in July under a plan being developed by health and education officials.

Parents of children with special needs have been warning that the longer they're kept out of the school environment, the harder it will be to reintegrate them to a school setting after the pandemic restrictions are eased.

Now, according to the Irish Times, a plan's being drawn up to reopen buildings to run the July Education Programme for children with autism and intellectual disabilities.

Over ten thousand children have taken part in the summer school in recent years.

The paper reports officials are investigating expanding the programme to cover other children with special needs, including Down's Syndrome.

Plans to bring children from disadvantaged backgrounds back in for summer schools run in previous years are also being considered.

A memo on the plans will be given to the Cabinet in the next two weeks.

Cocooning:

More than 20 percent of Irish people plan to cocoon in their homes for the foreseeable future.

It's one of the findings in research carried out by Home and Community Care Ireland, who believe new ways of delivering care to people needs to be devised.

It wants the Government to set up a group to oversee how the sector can be run in the future.

CEO of HCCI is Joseph Musgrave, he outlines some findings from the study:

Restrictions:

If relatively low numbers of covid-19 cases emerge on the island of Ireland in the weeks ahead, there may be scope to speed up the lifting of lockdown measures.

That's according to immunologist Dr Gabriel Scally.

Yesterday there were two further deaths reported linked to covid-19, and another 66 positive tests.

But Dr Scally says our proximity to great Britain is still a serious risk.:

Australia:

Australia has entered the next stage of easing lockdown restrictions.

In New South Wales - home to almost half the country's coronavirus infections - people can now go to museums, galleries, libraries and zoos.

The number of those allowed in cafes, restaurants and pubs has also increased, with different states setting their own rules.

Frontline workers:

Postal workers, couriers and telecoms engineers have raised €70,000 to get skin cream for frontline health workers.

The Communications Workers' Union says its members wanted to recognise the contribution of frontline staff to fighting the covid-19 effort.

Prolonged use of personal protective gear can cause irritation and and cuts -- while the intensive hand-washing can also cause irritation.

The CWU says they've only managed to buy enough cream for about 5,000 workers so far and are calling on other trade union members to help with the fundraiser.

England:

Some primary schools in England are reopening today to three classes.

The country is seeing its largest easing of restrictions, with groups of six people allowed to meet outdoors.

A poll of principals in England says up to 46 percent of families could keep their children at home.

Public transport:

Face masks should be compulsory for anyone using public transport, according to the National Bus and Rail Union.

Currently using face masks on bus and train services is not mandatory.

Last month the Taoiseach said science is equivocal on the issue.

But Dermot O'Leary, from the NBRU, says the union is recommending to government that face masks on transport become mandatory:

Fake information:

False information poses a serious threat to public health during the Covid-19 pandemic.

That's the finding of a new NUI Galway study on the sharing of coronavirus misinformation on social media.

It comes after another 2 people with coronavirus died in the Republic, with 66 new confirmed cases.

NUI Galway Lecturer, Dr. Eoin Whelan says a problem arose in Sweden where people believed false information about deaths:

CSO:

The Central Statistics Office is calling on people to help them "tell the story" of how Covid 19 is affecting our society.

The office, which usually carries out face-to-face interviews has been forced to carry out its surveys via telephone since the crisis began.

However, the response rate has been far lower and is affecting the quality of information.

Now it's urging anyone who is contacted to participate.

Local figures: 

Another 2 people with Covid-19 have died in the Republic - a drop from 9 yesterday.

Latest figures from the National Public Health Emergency Team show there are 66 new confirmed cases.

There are now a total 1,652 Covid-19 related deaths and the total number of people infected is 24,990

Data as of midnight on Friday, shows 7,963 cases are associated with healthcare workers.

Two people have tested positive in the midlands. 

Westmeath has had 668 people diagnosed with the illness. One new case was confirmed today. 

Offaly for the fourth day in a row there has been no further cases, the total remains 478.

Laois has one new case bringing its total to 259. It is the first case to be reported in the O'Moore county in seven days.