A further 59 people with COVID-19 have died, while 229 new cases of the virus have been confirmed.

According to the Department of Health, two deaths that were previously reported as COVID-related have been denotified, so the number of deaths here now stands at 1,159.

There are now also 19,877 cases of the virus.

As of midnight on April 27, 153,054 tests have been carried out, including 41,470 tests over the last week. Of these 41,470 tests, 5,335 (12.9%) were positive.

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) met on Tuesday to determine a "phased, risk-based public health approach", which will inform any changes to the current restrictions in place.

It will continue to review the evidence to enable the Minister for Health to make formal recommendations to Government in the next few days.

"While there are many facets to Ireland's approach to managing the impact of COVID-19, NPHET's primary responsibility is to consider the impact on the public's health and to advise on measures that can limit that impact," commented the department's chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan.

It is understood that Government ministers hold varying views on the lifting of restrictions on May 5, with some calling for an easing of restrictions, such as cocooning, and others believing that a more cautious approach is needed.

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.