LAST UPDATE | 3 May 2020

THE NUMBER OF confirmed cases of Covid-19 in intensive care units has remained below 100 for the second day, as 98 people were confirmed as having the virus in ICUs around the country.

According to the latest figures from the HSE, as of 8pm last night, there were 688 confirmed cases Covid-19 in the country’s hospitals, with 265 suspected cases. 

There were also 22 people suspected as having the virus in intensive care, while there were 131 critical care beds still available.

The Department of Health this evening confirmed that a further 19 people had died from Covid-19 in Ireland, bringing the death toll here to 1,303. 

Internationally, parts of Europe, Asia and the United States have begun to lift restrictions to try to inject life into economies crippled by weeks of closures and ease the pressure from populations wearying of confinement.

In Italy, people will be allowed to stroll in parks and visit relatives from Monday. Restaurants can open for takeaway and wholesale stores can resume business also. 

Here are today’s main Covid-19 points:

• A further 19 people have died from Covid-19 in Ireland, the Department of Health confirmed this evening. An additional 330 cases of coronavirus have also been confirmed here, bringing the total number of cases to 21,506.
• A further five people are confirmed to have died from Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, bringing the death toll there to 381. 
• There have been 100 outbreaks of Covid-19 cases confirmed in disability services across the country and 36 in mental health facilities, the HSE has said. 
• There have also been 34 outbreaks confirmed in other settings including Direct Provision Centres and the Roma community. 
• The HSE IS investigating after the family of a person who died from Covid-19 was given the wrong body by the mortuary in Mullingar Regional Hospital.
• Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has said a new government will need to be formed by June or early July to pass legislation for some of the Covid-19 pandemic measures for businesses.
• The Covid-19 contact tracing app is due to be launched at the end of May. 
• Some respite care services have been cancelled amid the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving vulnerable people and their families without much-needed services.
• Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has asked his officials to examine the issues around liability and insurability of claims made as a result of contracting Covid-19 while on a business premises.
• Covid-19 is hitting patients’ kidneys, not their lungs. Irish authorities were ahead of the curve and got extra kidney treatment equipment and supplies after the disease outbreak in northern Italy.
• Health Minister Simon Harris has said that those aged over 70s are “a resilient generation”, adding that he is aware the impact of cocooning is having on their lives.

Here are today’s international main Covid-19 points:

• 315 more people have died from Covid-19 in the UK, bringing its total number of deaths in hospitals, care homes and the wider community to 28,446, the Department of Health said. 
• US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has claimed there’s “enormous evidence” that the coronavirus emerged in a lab in Wuhan. 
• South Korea has said it will loosen social distancing rules this week to allow gatherings and events to take place after the number of new coronavirus cases dropped significantly in recent days. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said gatherings and events will be permitted under the condition that they follow disinfection measures. 
• Spain has counted another 164 coronavirus deaths, the lowest daily number in nearly seven weeks as the country begins to gradually lift its strict lockdown.
• Italy has reported its lowest death toll since the lockdown began two months ago on the eve of these restrictive measures being eased slightly. 
• A massive wave of coronavirus infections is blasting through the world’s largest prison population in the United States even as officials begin opening up their economies, saying the disease has plateaued.
• The number of confirmed cases in India neared 40,000 as the country of 1.3 billion people marked the 40th day of a nationwide lockdown that has upended lives and millions of jobs. The official death toll reached 1,301.
• Thailand has allowed businesses such as restaurants, hair salons and outdoor markets to reopen today so long as social distancing was maintained and temperature checks carried out.