Coronavirus Ireland: 611 new cases with 218 in Dublin and five deaths

A further 618 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Ireland with 218 in Dublin.

Health chiefs have also confirmed that an additional five people have sadly died from the virus.

The total number of confirmed infections since the outbreak of the killer bug now stands at 39,584 while 1,816 people have sadly died from the illness.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan is addressing the media for the first time since a row erupted between Government and NPHET.

Health advisers were "livid" with Tanasite Leo Varadkar's comments that a recommendation to put the entire country back into full lockdown "wasn't thought through".

You can follow all the updates from the briefing in our live blog here.

We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.

For the latest news and breaking news visit dublinlive.ie/news.

Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter @DublinLive - the official Dublin Live Twitter account - real news in real time.

We're also on Facebook/dublinlive - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the capital. coronavirus