Minister for Health Simon Harris has offered a message of hope as he revealed 77 Covid-19 patients have been discharged from ICU.
The Fine Gael TD hailed the work of health professionals across the country for their work on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus.
He insisted that the positive stories from intensive care can both motivate and encourage us as we continue to fight the killer bug.
Mr Harris said on Twitter: "A number to give us hope this morning -77.
"The number of people with #Covid19 who have now been discharged from ICU.
"77 lives recovering thanks to the amazing dedication of our health professionals. 77 families relieved. 77 reasons to motivate us & encourage us to stay the course."
Mr Harris also highlighted the work of frontline heroes who are "often taken for granted".
He added: "This pandemic must give us a lasting appreciation of so many essential workers.
"People who all too often are taken for granted. I know I will never again do so -supermarket staff, food suppliers, porters, cleaners, frontline workers. Too many to name. Thank you to all. Respect."
However last night was another dark day for Ireland as Covid-19 claimed another 41 lives – the most in a single day – bringing Ireland’s death toll to 406.
Twenty victims were residents in nursing homes which have become the frontline in the war against the killer virus.
The total number of people infected climbed by 832 to 11,479 cases.
Those include 548 new live cases detected in Irish labs and another 284 people whose backlogged swabs tested positive at a facility in Germany.
Another 218 healthcare workers caught the disease yesterday, bringing the overall number to 2,707.
After the National Public Health Emergency Team met on Wednesday, planners said they have placed the fight in nursing homes and other care centres at the top of the agenda.
There have been claims staff in around 500 centres who care for 25,000 patients are still not getting access to priority testing.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan, said: “We remain concerned about the prevalence of Covid-19 in nursing homes and residential care settings.
“From the beginning, we have been aware that vulnerable groups, including the elderly, are at greater risk. These groups will continue to be our priority.”
