Coronavirus: Nine Further Deaths Confirmed

Latest news updates for Saturday 6th June 2020.

Latest figures:

Nine more people with Covid-19 have died here and there are 24 new confirmed cases.

The National Public Health Emergency Team says the death toll has reached 1,678 and the total number of people infected is 25,183.

Healthcare workers make up 8,059 of cases.

No new cases confirmed in the midlands. 

Westmeath's total remains on 671, with 479 cases in Offaly at 479 and Laois on 261.

The midlands total for confirmed cases remains at 1,410.

Driving Tests:

Driver theory tests and NCT checks will be able to be carried out from June 8th.

Not all centres will be able to re-open, with the Department of Transport advising people to check its website to see their local centres.

Transport Minister Shane Ross has said they're looking at all available options to allow driving tests to be carried out.

Pennys:

Pennys say all of its stores across the country will begin to reopen from June 12th.

Those with street access will welcome back customers from that date, while June 15th will be the re-opening for stores in shopping centres.

The company say there will be limits on the number of people allowed in shops at any one time and fitting rooms will be closed off.

Brazil:

The Brazilian president has threatened to withdraw from the World Health Organisation, as the country's number of positive cases of Covid-19 hits more than 600,000.

Jair Bolsonaro has said it needs to stop being political for the country to continue to be a member.

Last month, Donald Trump said the US would no longer have a relationship with the WHO.

The Brazilian president had previously described the coronavirus as a "little flu", however newspapers in the country are reporting a person in the country is dying from the disease every minute.

Face maks:

The World Health Organization has changed its guidance on the wearing of face masks to combat Covid-19.

It's now saying they should be worn in public to help stop the spread of the virus.

The WHO had previously said there was not enough evidence to say that healthy people should wear masks.

Protest:

The Chief Medical Officer is appealing to people not to attend demonstrations this weekend.

A socially distanced protest is due to be held this afternoon outside the US Embassy in Dublin over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

CMO Dr. Tony Holohan says it's not the time to be holding rallies here:

Pubs and hotels:

The Licenced Vintners Association is welcoming the Government's decision to reopen pubs that serve food from June 29th.

LVA Chief Executive, Donal O'Keefe is also glad the rest of bars will be able to open from July 20th instead of August:

The Irish Hotels' Federation says it's a huge lift that hotels will open from June 29th.

Its President Elaina Fitzgerald Kane is reassuring customers it's safe to reopen:

Shops:

Retail Ireland says the decision to open all shops on Monday is really positive news for the sector.

It's part of the Government's plans to speed up the lockdown restrictions.

Director of Retail Ireland, Arnold Dillon says the stores reopening will be able to learn from measures supermarkets have taken:

Nursing homes:

Some nursing home residents will see their family members for the first time since March later this month.

Visits are to be allowed from June 15th, but only in facilities where there is no Covid-19 outbreak.

Indoor visits once a week by two people will be allowed, with only one visitor present at any one time, and must be pre-arranged and last less than half an hour.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan, says the time is right to begin nursing home visits again:

Payments:

Thousands of young people stopped claiming the Pandemic Unemployment Payment last week.

The Minister for Social Protection is dismissing claims they are reluctant to go back to work.

It comes as the payment becomes two tier on June 29th.

Anyone who had been earning less than 200 euro a week before losing their jobs will move to a 203 euro a week payment.

Anyone else will remain on the 350 euro payment.

Latest figures:

A further 28 cases of the virus have been confirmed, bringing the total to 25,163, while the death toll stands at 1,670, after a further 7 people died.

Locally, one new case has been confirmed in Westmeath.

It brings the county's total to 671.

The number remains the same in both Offaly at 479 and Laois on 261.

The midlands total for confirmed cases now stands at 1,410.