LAST UPDATE | 25 Jun 2020

HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE confirmed that one more person has died from Covid-19 in Ireland.

The Department of Health also said a further 11 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed here.

It brings the total number of confirmed cases here to 25,405, while the death toll from Covid-19 in Ireland is now 1,727.

There has been a further drop in patients with Covid-19 in hospitals, Health Minister Simon Harris confirmed this morning. Nine patients are now in ICU and 31 patients are in hospital with the virus.

Internationally, Australia’s military plans to send 1,000 troops to Melbourne in an effort to help contain the country’s only significant coronavirus outbreak.

Here are today’s Covid-19 main points:

• One further death and 11 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Ireland, according to the latest figures.

• Face masks are set to be made mandatory for travel on public transport under new rules being brought before Cabinet today.
• The National Public Health Emergency Team will meet today to discuss easing restrictions in the third phase of the roadmap.
• The Oireachtas special Covid-19 committee has been told that an increase in tourism is likely to lead to a a resurgence in coronavirus cases and authorities should consider from which countries they allow travellers to enter Ireland.
• Professor Paddy Mallon told the same committee: “If there is no consideration from where the tourists are coming from, then we’re really giving ourselves a rod to break our back.”
• Nine patients with Covid-19 are now in ICU (down from 11 yesterday) and 31 patients are in hospital with the virus (it was 37 yesterday), Health Minister Simon Harris has confirmed.
• Community contact tracing remains at 73% in relation to one meat processing plant that experienced a Covid-19 outbreak – not 90%, as previously reported – the Department of Health has confirmed.
• Over 100 days on from shutting their doors, just under half of Ireland’s pubs are geared up for re-opening.
• Hotels expect their occupancy rate will fall by around 40% this year as a consequence of the three-month lockdown of the sector.
• Victims of domestic violence will be provided with temporary free accommodation if specialist emergency facilities are not available, amid an increase in reported cases during the pandemic.
• Does Ireland have the highest Covid-19 infection rate for healthcare workers in the world? We fact-check the claim. 
• Omniplex Cinemas today announced the re-opening of seven cinemas on 3 July in Cork, Rathmines, Limerick, Galway, Wexford and Arklow, and a new cinema in Drogheda.

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

• Australia’s military plans to send 1,000 troops to Melbourne in an effort to help contain the country’s only significant coronavirus outbreak over fears of a second wave.
• Governments and businesses are ramping up precautions after the number of Covid-19 cases surged in various parts of the world.
• 9.2 million cases of the virus and 477,269 deaths have now been confirmed globally, according to the European centre for Disease Control.