A further 18 people with COVID-19 have died in the Republic, while 386 new cases of the virus have been confirmed.

According to the Department of Health, three deaths that were previously reported as COVID-related have been denotified, so the total number of deaths here now stands at 1,102.

The total number of cases here is 19,648.

Data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has shown that of the 19,095 cases reported to it as of midnight on April 25, 2,625 people have been hospitalised and of these, 353 have been admitted to ICU.

Some 5,024 cases of the virus were associated with healthcare workers.

"We have always made it clear that there are certain things that we need to be satisfied with prior to recommending any change in current restrictions. The most important one is that the incidence rate of the virus needs to be as low as possible in terms of transmission in the community and within community and residential settings.

"In addition, the impact of the disease on rates of mortality and hospitalisations, including admissions to intensive care units, also needs to be at a very low level. Improvements are still needed in these important measures," insisted the department's chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan.

Meanwhile, a survey of 1,270 adults conducted today on behalf of the department shows that 84% of people feel they have adapted well to COVID-related changes, while 81% think that the Government's reaction to the COVID pandemic is appropriate.

COVID-19 is spread through close contact with an infected person's body fluids (e.g. droplets from coughing or sneezing), or by touching surfaces that an infected person has coughed or sneezed on. It can take up to 14 days for symptoms of the virus to show. These may include a fever, a persistent cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

COVID-19 can also cause more severe illnesses, including pneumonia and severe breathing difficulties. Some 80% of cases will be mild to moderate, 14% will be more severe, while 6% will be critical.

Restrictions in relation to COVID-19 are now in place until May 5. As part of these restrictions, everybody is being asked to stay at home, except in specific circumstances. These include:
-Travelling to and from work in circumstances where the work is an essential health, social care or other essential service that cannot be done from home
-To shop for essential food and household goods
-To attend medical appointments
-For vital family reasons, such as caring for children or elderly people
-To take brief individual exercise within your locality, which may include children from your household, however this should be within 2km of your home.

All public and private gatherings of any number of people outside a single household or living unit are prohibited, while those over the age of 70 and medically vulnerable people are also being cocooned. 

ALONE, the organisation that supports older people to age at home, is running a national support line for older people facing difficulties due to COVID-19. The support line is open every day from 8am to 8pm, call 0818 222 024.

For more information on COVID-19, click here.