A total of 92 additional cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the Republic of Ireland, it was announced on Saturday.
This is the first time less than 100 new cases have been recorded since mid-March.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said: “Today is the first time we have seen the number of confirmed cases fall below 100 since mid-March.
“While the past nine weeks have been particularly difficult for those cocooning, and for parents with young children, today’s numbers give reassurance that we have all learned and adopted new behaviours of handwashing, respiratory etiquette and social distance that will serve us well as we work together to re-open retail, business and society.”
However sadly the Department of Health also confirmed this evening that a further 15 people with the disease have lost their lives.
It brings the total number of deaths here to 1,533.
The full data released by the Department reveals the following statistics of Ireland's confirmed cases, correct as of midnight on Thursday:
· 57% are female and 42% are male
· the median age of confirmed cases is 48 years
· 3,092 cases (13%) have been hospitalised
· Of those hospitalised, 389 cases have been admitted to ICU
· 7,530 cases are associated with healthcare workers
· Dublin has the highest number of cases at 11,657 (49% of all cases) followed by Kildare with 1,357 cases (6%) and then Cork with 1,346 cases (6%)
· Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 60%, close contact accounts for 37%, travel abroad accounts for 3%
It comes after it was confirmed that the number of patients receiving treatment for Covid-19 in Irish hospitals is continuing to fall.
A total of 688 people were in hospitals across the country last night with either confirmed or suspected cases of the virus.
There were 56 in intensive care with confirmed cases of the disease, and another 17 who were suspected of contracting it.
Total admissions to hospitals were down 8.5% between Thursday and Friday morning.
