Coronavirus: Ireland Records Highest Number Of Covid-19 Deaths In A Single Day

Latest news updates for Monday 20th April 2020.

Latest figures:

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that 77 people diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ireland have died.

·        67 deaths located in the east, 4 in the west, 4 in the north-west and 2 in the south of the country

·        the people included 32 males and 44 females – 1 not specified

·        the median age of today’s reported deaths is 84

·        54 people were reported as having underlying health conditions

There have now been 687 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of 1pm Monday 20th April, the HPSC has been notified of an additional 401 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported by Irish laboratories.

There is now a total of 15,652 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

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 18th April (15,185 cases), reveals:

·        56% are female and 44% are male, with 478 clusters involving 3,139 cases

·        the median age of confirmed cases is 48 years

·        2,272 cases (15%) have been hospitalised

·        Of those hospitalised, 306 cases have been admitted to ICU

·        4,009 cases are associated with healthcare workers

·        Dublin has the highest number of cases at 7,666 (51% of all cases) followed by Cork with 1,047 cases (7%)

·        Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 62%, close contact accounts for 34%, travel abroad accounts for 4%

In the midlands, there are now 729 confirmed cases of the virus.

That includes 369 in Westmeath, up 11 from yesterday.

In Offaly, there's been an increase of three, bringing the total to 190.

And there are now 170 confirmed cases in Laois, a jump of 2 from yesterday's figures.

Childcare for health workers:

A solution has been found to support healthcare workers that are in need of childcare.

However it needs to get the green light from the National Public Health Emergency Team before details can be announced.

NPHET will discuss the proposal when it meets tomorrow. 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says funding is available for the plan:

Global outlook:

The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases globally is approaching 2 and a half million.

Despite some countries witnessing a slowing of infection rates, and relaxing restrictions, worldwide deaths now top 166,000.

Latest figures from Johns Hopkins University show 2.4 million cases of Covid-19 have been recorded across the world, and 166 thousand deaths. 

Officials in Spain say the spread seems to be slowing, despite an increase in testing. 

England has recorded its lowest death toll for three weeks.

429 people have died in hospital, bringing the overall total to 14-thousand-289.

In Germany where there's been 145,000 cases, smaller shops, like florists and clothes shops, are opening up again for the first time today. 

New Zealand will ease lockdown next week after Prime Minister Ardern claimed they had stopped a wave of devastation.

It will move its maximum Level Four alert to Level Three from next Monday. 

The United States has recorded more than 758,000 cases and nearly 41,000 deaths. 

However, infections appeared to have passed the peak of the outbreak in New York state, the area worst affected by the outbreak. 

Mortgages:

People who have been approved for a mortgage but have since lost jobs or had a pay cut can return to their application once their situation improves.

The Banking and Payments Federation has published guidance for customers at various stages of the mortgage application process.

It says that those whose circumstances haven't changed, can extend their mortgage approval beyond the standard 6 months.

CEO of the BPFI, Brian Hayes, says those who aren't in a position to continue house hunting can pick up where they left off at a later:

Taoiseach on fruit pickers:

The possibility of more fruit pickers arriving from abroad hasn't been ruled out. 

The Taoiseach has admitted he didn't anticipate the need for workers to be flown in to help harvest food. 

It's after Keelings Fruit caused significant public upset by flying in almost 200 workers from Bulgaria last week. 

Leo Varadkar says tough decision will need to be made if local workers can't be found:

Payment:

584,00 people will receive the COVID-19 Unemployment Payment tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the government's Wage Subsidy Scheme has paid out 321 million euro to businesses.

Some people who have applied for the unemployment scheme have had their payments withheld.

Liz Canavan from the Department of the Taoiseach says some are down to mistakes in the application:

Mortgages:

House hunters can extend their mortgage approval if they need more time to find a home due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Once their salaries remain intact, customers can extend the approval beyond 6 months.

According to the Banking and Payments Federation, customers whose pay has been cut can return to their application once they can provide an update on their employment and income.

CEO of the Banking and Payments Federation, Brian Hayes, says it's business as usual for the banks:

Spain:

More than 200-thousand people in Spain have now tested positive for coronavirus. 

Authorities in the country say another 399 patients have now died.

It takes the total to over 20-thousand 400.

Travel:

People coming into Ireland may be asked to register where they plan to self-isolate.

The government is considering the measure after Keelings was criticised for flying in almost 200 workers to pick fruit.

The Taoiseach’s ordered a review into the existing rules about international travel. 

Infectious disease specialist with the RCSI Sam McConkey says the World Health Organisation has guidelines on this:

This is why Ireland is such a special country. Support and encouragement for our frontline heroes #ThankYou in #Coolderry #Offaly We would love people to share their positive messages and images to share with our staff, pls tag us! pic.twitter.com/sX4rpWtPOH

— Dublin Midlands Hospital Group (@DMHospitalGroup) April 17, 2020

Courts:

For the first time ever, an Irish court sitting will take place today without all the parties being present. 

A short hearing of the Supreme Court is taking place, using video technology. 

It's part of the social-distancing measures introduced by the Courts Service, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Other courts will roll-out the technology in suitable cases in the coming weeks.

Churches:

First Holy Communion and Confirmation ceremonies won't happen in Munster before June. 

Bishops across the Archdiocese of Cashel have agreed to postpone the sacraments usually offered to children at primary school. 

They'd usually take place in late April and early May. 

Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy says it's still not clear when they can happen:

Worldwide Numbers:

The world's death toll from coronavirus has passed 165,000. 

There have now been more than 2.4 million cases across the world. 

Nearly 760,000 people have been infected with the disease in the US, where 41,000 people have died. 

There have been almost 15,000 deaths in New York City alone. 

Nursing Homes:

A census of all nursing home deaths took place over the weekend to help better understand the scale of Covid-19 within the facilities.

The research looking at people who have died in nursing homes since the start of the year related to coronavirus, and those not linked to the disease.

The HSE's Dr Colm Henry says it may highlight some cases that are going "under the radar":

Pub Closures:

Publicans say they'll need a bailout if they're asked to stay closed much longer. 

The Licenced Vintners Association's been reacting to comments made by the Health Minister at the weekend. 

Simon Harris says it would be impossible for people to be in a packed pub until there's a vaccine for the coronavirus. 

But that's not expected before 2021 -- and LVA boss Donal O'Keeffe says most pubs will go bust if they have to wait that long. 

Local figures:

39 more people have died from the coronavirus in the Republic and 445 new cases have been confirmed by Irish labs.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre says an extra 48 cases have been reported by a lab in Germany.

It brings the number of new cases combined to 493 for today, with a total of 15, 251 people who have the disease here.

37 deaths were in the east, with 2 in the west of the country, including 20 men and 19 women.

The number of confirmed cases in Westmeath has written by 26 to 358.

Another 10 patients have been diagnosed in Offaly bringing the total to 187.

Meanwhile, a further 21 people have contracted the illness in Laois. There are now 168 cases in the O'Moore county.