A total of 360 more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Ireland, while 42 people are currently in ICU.
Meanwhile a total of 110 patients with Covid-19 are currently in hospitals across the country.
The latest figures were announced by the Department of Health this evening.
It comes after thousands of Pandemic Unemployment Payment recipients have been told to remember to fill in an important form today.
The reopening of non-essential retail this week will result in 280,000 employees around the country returning to work.
For over four months, the vast majority of shops and stores around Ireland have remained closed but as the country begins to reopen ahead of the outdoor-themed summer.
With so many people returning to work, the Government are urging those who have been in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) to close their claims.
If anyone was in receipt of the PUP, this payment will stop if they meet the following criterion:
- your employer is paying you
- your employer is getting a payment with the COVID-19 Employer Refund Scheme or COVID-19 Wage Subsidy
- you have returned to your job or have found another job
- you did not lose your job due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- you are leaving Ireland.
Claims can be closed via the designated MyGovID account and if any who's currently receiving the PUP and recently returned to work, the Dept of Social Protection has said, "you must stop your payment on your first day back at work."
The payment period of the PUP is Friday to Thursday.
A statement from the Department reads: "If you close your claim to return to work and have at least one qualifying day in that period you will receive full payment for that week."
In terms of arrears, claimants are being told that it may take a number of months before the Department will be able to review payments made to customers for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
If you are due arrears, you will be notified and receive payment. There is no need to take any further action.
As for the most recent figures, over 8,500 fewer people received the PUP this week.
Last week, the Department of Social Protection announced that 376,600 people received the PUP, at a cost of €111m.
More than 12,200 people closed their claim for the payment over the past seven days, saying they were going back to work.
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys expects the number of PUP recipients to fall further in the coming weeks, with retail and hospitality reopening.
