COVID-19 death toll passes 1,000
Thirty-seven more confirmed COVID-19 related deaths have been reported this evening.
Meanwhile, 185 “probable” deaths have been reported, taking the national death toll to 1,014.
Without the probable deaths included, the death toll sits at 829 after two previously reported deaths were re-categorised as being non-virus-related.
A further 577 cases of the virus have been confirmed taking the total to 18,184.
Breaches could see restrictions extended
The Taoiseach has warned that the lockdown could be extended once again if people ease up on following the restrictions in the coming days.
Leo Varadkar was speaking after the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) warned that people were starting to move around more even though the public health advice had not changed.
Speaking at Government Buildings this afternoon, Mr Varadkar said any hopes of easing restrictions on Mat 5th are “in our hands as a society.”
“If we do the right thing for the next 11 days; if we continue to wash our hands, engage in respiratory etiquette, keep our distance from other people and follow the guidelines set down by the CMO – that really increases our prospects of being able to ease restrictions from the 5th of May,” he said.
#FormalFriday raises over €135,000 for frontline workers
Donations for #FormalFriday have officially passed the €100,000 mark.
We asked you to dress up and donate to help frontline workers, and you answered.
Newstalk has joined forces with its sister stations to raise money to support our frontline heroes, as they continue to tackle the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
We have called on friends, families, colleagues and businesses across Ireland to get involved and dress up, instead of dressing down.
Motor insurers to offer refunds
Some of Ireland’s biggest motor insurers have agreed to offer refunds on premiums due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Insurance Ireland said the discounts would reflect an expected fall in claims, with less people on the roads during the lockdown.
Allianz, AXA, FBD, RSA and Zurich have all signed up to the plan and will let their customers know what level of refund they can expect in the coming weeks.
Insurance Ireland CEO Moyagh Murdock said it is “clear that road usage levels have fallen significantly” in the weeks since the restrictions were announced.
Trump under fire over COVID-19 disinfectant suggestion
The Chief Medical Officer has warned people not to take medical advice from the US president.
Dr Tony Holohan was speaking after President Donald Trump called for research into whether injecting COVID-19 patients with disinfectant could cure them from coronavirus.
Doctors immediately warned against the idea - blasting it as "irresponsible" and "dangerous" and pointed out that it could kill people.
Meanwhile, the producer of Dettol warned that "under no circumstances" should its products be injected into the human body.
