Two more people have died in the north west as a result of Covid-19, the Department of Health has confirmed.
A total of 41 deaths were notified to the HSE in the past 24 hours. 35 people were reported as having underlying health conditions.
This brings the death toll in the Republic to 571.
An additional 778 cases were also confirmed today – including 630 new cases confirmed in Ireland and 148 older tests confirmed in German laboratories.
17 more cases were confirmed in Donegal up to Thursday, bringing the total to 369.
Ireland now has 14,758 confirmed cases of the virus.
Speaking this evening, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said that priority is being placed on nursing homes and long-term care homes: “This week the National Public Health Emergency Team emphasised the importance of testing in interrupting the transmission of COVID-19 in community residential settings including nursing homes.
“This sector remains a priority for our focused attention and we will continue to monitor and support them through this outbreak.”