Coronavirus latest: 10 more people have died in Ireland; 200 new cases 

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) has this evening confirmed that 10 more people diagnosed with Covid-19 in Ireland have died, including eight men and two women.

Six of these people were located in the east of the country, three in the northwest of the country and one in the south of the country. The median age of today’s reported deaths is 77.

There have now been 46 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

It said the Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been informed of 200 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland (as at 1pm, Sunday 29 March), bringing the total number of cases here to 2,615.

Data published this evening shows that as of midnight, on Friday 27 March, there were 208 confirmed cases of Covid-19 reported in Cork.

Amongst 2,216 cases reported nationally then, 506 cases were associated with healthcare workers and 564 cases (26%) had been hospitalised.

A total of 103 clusters involving 379 cases had been reported. The median age of confirmed cases is 47 years.

Of those for whom transmission status is known, community transmission accounts for 51 per cent, close contact accounts for 24 per cent, travel abroad accounts for 25 per cent.

"Today, we are informed of a further 10 deaths. Our condolences are with the family and friends of all patients who have died as a result of COVID-19,” said Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health.

“While we continue to build our capacity for intensive care, our strategy remains to prevent people from needing intensive care in the first place.

“We know the virus will not survive if we prevent it from passing among ourselves. 

The enhanced restrictions announced on Friday aim to slow down and restrict the spread of the virus,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, noted this evening that attendance at blood donation clinics is permitted at this time.

“I welcome the measures taken by the Irish Blood Transfusion Board to implement social distancing at their clinics and to maintain the blood supply.

“3,000 blood donations are needed every week to meet demand and the ready availability of this blood for transfusion is vital to the daily treatment of patients in our hospitals,” he said