Covid-19: Further 59 deaths, 229 new cases in Ireland

Updated: 6.40pm

HEALTH officials have confirmed that a further 59 people with Covid-19 have died in the Republic of Ireland.

The country’s death toll since the outbreak of the virus is now 1,159.

Northern Ireland recorded the biggest daily death toll today with 20 deaths recorded. There have been 329 Covid-19 deaths in Northern Ireland.

On the island of Ireland, there have been a total of 1,488 deaths from Covid-19.

The health service has been notified of another 229 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There have now been 19,877 positive cases.

One new case has been confirmed in Donegal, bringing the county total to 453.

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) says that 45 of the 59 deaths recorded today were laboratory-confirmed.

Earlier today, the Cabinet was told that there are no indications that virus levels will be low enough to ease the restrictions on May 5.

Ministers were briefed by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the Health Minister Simon Harris. the NPHET will consider the matter on Friday before giving its recommendation to the Cabinet.

It is expected that the current lockdown measures will remain in place for another two weeks.