Mater Hospital reported COVID-19 cases
An investigation has found that Dublin's Mater Hospital did meet its legal requirements in reporting COVID-19 cases.
However, the HSE chief says data submitted to labs by the hospital at one stage in the process did "not have the full details" of cases.
On Thursday, health authorities were made aware of an extra 244 cases at the facility.
Hospitals are legally obligated to report infectious disease cases as soon as they're aware of them.
Fine Gael claims government formation talks 'have been damaged' due to 'unwarranted attacks' by Fianna Fáil TDs responding to reports about election contingency planning.
The matter has also been escalated to party leaders, with Fine Gael saying Leo Varadkar will now meet Micheál Martin to discuss the issue.
Yesterday, it emerged that draft plans are being drawn by the Government on how any election would operate amid the coronavirus crisis if the current negotiations break down.
In a statement this afternoon, Fine Gael said officials working on the election contingency plans are "only doing their jobs by scenario planning for all eventualities".
McDonald calls for TWSS re-think
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald says the temporary wage subsidy scheme has to be fixed 'very quickly' to ensure women returning from maternity leave are eligible.
The scheme involves the Government subsidising wages for companies that have been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak, with the State paying up to 85% of employees' wages if they're kept on payroll.
However, it emerged last month that an “irregularity” was preventing companies from accessing the scheme for women returning from maternity leave.
The Department of Finance says that although an employer may not be able to claim the subsidy for a person who wasn't on the payroll on February 29th, the usual legal obligations on employers continue to apply during the crisis.
Warning over inflammatory disease in Children
The Chief Medical Officer is urging doctors to report any suspected cases of inflammatory disease in children, amid concerns of a potential link between it and COVID-19.
An alert has been issued across Europe after 230 cases of a new rare inflammatory syndrome called PIMS (paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome), which could be associated with coronavirus.
Potential cases in seven children here have already been investigated.
PIMS can cause high fever, a rash and could lead to children requiring ventilation in ICU.
Woodies reverses ban on under-16s
DIY chain Woodie's has reversed a decision to not allow children under 16 in their stores.
Ahead of the shops being reopened tomorrow, the company announced on Friday that children would not be permitted.
Woodie's said workers had "expressed concerns that social distancing is much harder to adhere to with children in our stores".
However, the move received a strong response on social media - with some expressing concern over the potential impact on single parents.
