The Department of Health has confirmed 126 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total in the Republic to 683.
It brings the total on the island of Ireland to 769 after the number of cases in the North rose to 86.
New: there are 126 new confirmed cases of #Covid_19 here today. It brings the total in the Republic to 683
— Shane Beatty (@ShaneBeattyNews) March 20, 2020
Speaking at the daily briefing at the Department of Health, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said it is too early to see the impact of the restrictions put in place in response to the outbreak.
He said the impact will become clearer at the end of the month.
“Now is not the time for complacency, he said.
“Every citizen who is practicing social distancing, who is taking precautions to limit the spread of this virus, is doing their country a service.
“The Department of Health has issued outdoor social distancing guidelines for everyone to follow.
“While we encourage people to exercise outside and maintain a healthy lifestyle, social distancing measures will continue to be paramount.”
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) also provided a breakdown of the cases confirmed as of midnight on Wednesday March 18th.
Half of the of the 438 cases that had been confirmed at the time were in Dublin.
Cork accounts for 15% of the confirmed cases – the second highest figure in the country.
Galway, Limerick, Wicklow, Westmeath and Meath are the only other counties to have recorded more than 10 cases.
According to the figures, 55% of the country’s COVID-19 patients were men and 43% were women.
Nearly a third of the patients were under the age of 34 and the median age of the patients was 44.
The age grouping with the highest number of confirmed cases was the 35 to 44-year-old group.
Nearly a third of patients over the age of 65 were hospitalised with the virus and the same was true for one-in-five patients between 55 and 65-years-old.
Dr Holohan warned families that it is essential not to organise gatherings in the home this Mother’s Day weekend.
