LAST UPDATE | 3 Apr 2020

HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED today that another 22 people have died from Covid-19 in the Republic of Ireland.  

A further 424 cases were also confirmed, bringing the total number of confirmed cases here to 4,273.  

This comes as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases around the world has soared past one million.

In the UK, the first field hospital opened in London today. 

Here are today’s main Covid-19 points: 

• A further 22 people have died from the Covid-19 virus in Ireland.
• Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he wants to avoid “another era of austerity” as the Central Bank has predicted the unemployment rate could rise to 25% as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. 
• There are fewer properties for sale in the country than at any point in the last 14 years, according to the latest house price report by Daft.ie. 
• Varadkar has also responded to reports that there are anomalies in the Covid-19 unemployment payment.
• There are now 38 clusters of Covid-19 infections in nursing homes across the country, according to new figures. 
• The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) is due to meet later today to review the latest information regarding the spread of Covid-19, RTÉ has reported. 
• Minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty has defended the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment, but said the system was “not perfect”. 
• The Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has issued another warning to farmers that they must not burn land at this time of the year. 
  The Minister stressed, “Although most on-farm visits are currently suspended due to the COVID19 crisis, my Department is continuing to carefully monitor satellite imagery in order to identify any parcels of land that are burnt illegally.
• Healthcare workers and medical staff can avail of 50% off taxi fares when using the Free Now app from now on. 
• Ryanair has said it expects to carry “minimal if any” traffic this April and May as the coronavirus pandemic forces its fleet to stay largely grounded.

Here are the main Covid-19 points from abroad:

• The number of confirmed coronavirus cases around the world has soared past one million. 
• Italy registered 766 more deaths from Covid-19 today. However, the rate of new infections in the Mediterranean country continues to slow down.
• Another 684 people have died in the UK, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related deaths there to 3,605. 
• The UK’s new 4,000-bed Nightingale emergency hospital in London was opened by Prince Charles via videolink.
• Spain has recorded more than 900 deaths from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours as rates of new infections continue to slow. 
• New York had its highest single day rise in death toll today as it jumped by 562 to 2,935. 
• The US government is formalising new guidance to recommend that many Americans wear face coverings in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
• US President Donald Trump has confirmed he has taken his second Covid-19 test, and that he again tested negative. 
• A virus-hit cruise ship with dozens of ill passengers and crew has docked in Florida after being barred from several South American countries.
• Peru has announced a new measure restricting public movement by gender. Men will only be allowed to leave their homes on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays, while women are authorised to step outdoors on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.