Ireland has recorded the lowest number of daily coronavirus deaths in nearly two months as the country began to reopen today.
Four more people were added to the Covid-19 death toll over the past 24 hours, according to today's statement from the National Public Health Emergency Team.
That's the fewest deaths since March 27, when three were announced.
The total toll as the country begins Phase One of reopening is now 1,547.
But Dr Tony Holohan had a message of hope and a warning for the country today.
The Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health said: "On the first day of Ireland moving into Phase One of reopening we have experienced the lowest number of deaths since March 27.
"We have suppressed the virus and limited its impact on public health.
"We need to sustain this in the weeks and phases ahead."
The country yesterday saw the lowest number of new cases, with 64 reported - the first time since March 16 (54) that that figure was so low.
The slight rise today to 88 new cases still means the country is at mid-March levels and a far cry from the several hundred being reported daily in mid-April.
There have now been 24,200 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Republic.
Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, said today: “Every death is one too many, but the collective effort to date has saved many lives. We must save more by practicing physical distancing, especially in queues and public spaces, respiratory etiquette and hand washing.”
Dr Siobhan Ni Bhriain, Consultant Psychiatrist and HSE Integrated Care Lead, said: “Moving into a new phase in Ireland’s response to COVID-19, we now have an opportunity to increase our exercise activity up to five kilometres and participate with a friend outside of the household.
"I would urge anyone who can, to take advantage of this in order to improve mental health and wellbeing.”
