The number of people with COVID-19 who have died in the Republic has exceeded 1,000.

According to the Department of Health, a further 37 people with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 have died, while two deaths originally reported as COVID-related have been denotified.

However, a further 185 probable deaths have also occurred.

A probable death is a death where a laboratory test has not been done, but where a doctor believes it is associated with COVID-19.

This brings the total number of deaths here to 1,014.

A further 577 cases of the virus have also been confirmed, bringing the total number of cases here to 18,184.

Data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre shows that of the 17,420 cases reported to it as of midnight on April 22, 2,486 people have been hospitalised and of these, 338 have been admitted to ICU.

Some 4,713 cases are associated with healthcare workers.

"Every indicator to date suggests that the growth of this disease has either stabilised or suppressed. This is a testament to the efforts made by every individual across Ireland over recent weeks. There is no doubt that your efforts have saved many lives.

"It shows that when public health advice is followed, we can suppress this virus in the long term. Keep going," urged the department's chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan.

Earlier, the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, appealed to people not to become complacent about the virus. He warned that if people break the rules now, it could have serious consequences, including an extension of the current lockdown beyond May 5.

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.

Those over the age of 70 and medically vulnerable people are also being cocooned. For more information on this, click here.

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.