No new deaths from COVID-19 have been reported in the Republic today. This marks the first time since mid-March that there have been no deaths reported.

Two deaths that had previously been classed as COVID-related have been denotified, so the number of deaths currently stands at 1,606.

Meanwhile, 59 new cases of the virus have been confirmed, bringing the total number of cases here to 24,698.

"The number of new cases and reported deaths over the past week indicates that we have suppressed COVID-19 as a country. It has taken strict measures to achieve this.

"It will take another week to see any effect on disease incidence that might arise from the easing of measures in phase 1," explained the Department of Health's chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan.

However, while the figures have been going largely in the right direction, the department's deputy chief medical officer, Dr Ronan Glynn, noted that according to research conducted on behalf of the department, 61% of people think it is likely that Ireland will experience a second wave of COVID-19.

"While the National Public Health emergency Team (NPHET) continues to monitor the spread of COVID-19 both here in Ireland and internationally, ultimately it is the collective behaviours of each individual which will determine the course of this disease.

"The importance of regular hand washing, physical distance and cough/sneeze etiquette cannot be underestimated," he said.

Data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre shows that of the 24,593 cases reported to it as of midnight on May 23, 3,225 have been hospitalised and of these, 394 have been admitted to ICU.

Some 7,842 cases are associated with healthcare workers, which is almost 32% of all cases.

Phase 1 of the Government's Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business is now in place. For more information on this, click here.