LAST UPDATE | 29 Jun 2020

HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE confirmed 24 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland and zero new deaths in what Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has described as “a worrying trend” in cases. 

It brings the total number of confirmed cases here to 25,462, while the death toll is 1,735. 

Phase Three of the easing of restrictions started today, meanwhile, with many businesses reopening. 

Internationally, the total number of Covid-19 cases has surpassed 10 million and the number of deaths from the virus is over 500,000. 

Here are today’s Covid-19 main points:

• Phase Three kicks in today, here’s what’s allowed as Ireland enters the next stage of easing lockdown restrictions.
• There have been no new deaths from Covid-19 in Ireland with 24 new cases diagnosed, according to the latest figures. 
• Crèches are reopening today and childcare facilities have to change the way they operate.
• Hairdressers and barbers will reopen today – some clients were queuing up after midnight- but customers should expect some changes. 
• Our reporter Sean Murray took a trip to see what the “new normal” looks like in pubs.  
• Non-essential travel abroad should be avoided to help prevent another surge of Covid-19 in Ireland, Professor Philip Nolan has warned.
• The use of face coverings on public transport is being made mandatory, but enforcement will not begin for a number of weeks with fines expected for non-compliance. 
• Businesses that rely heavily on international tourists are still facing a very uncertain future, despite the easing of restrictions.
• Overseas travel to and from Ireland fell by 98% in May 2020, compared to May 2019, new figures from the CSO show.
• If you’re reopening your business today, here is the legal advice you need to know.
• Friday, 12 June, was the second busiest day for shopping (after Friday, 29 May) and the busiest for clothes retailers as stores reopened after lockdown, according to new figures from AIB.

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

• The total number of Covid-19 cases has topped 10 million globally, including over 500,000 deaths, according to the latest figures.
• Non-essential shops in Leicester will close tomorrow, and schools will shut on Thursday, as restrictions are re-introduced in the city by the British government. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said this evening that residents of the city are being advised to stay at home as much as possible while the local lockdown measures continue.
• Governments around the world are stepping up testing and considering their next moves as the number of newly confirmed coronavirus cases surges in many countries, PA reports. India reported 20,000 new cases today, while the US confirmed more than 40,000 new infections for the third straight day.
• Bars in Los Angeles and six other Californian counties have been ordered to close again, as parts of the United States reimpose shutdown measures to try to quell a surge in coronavirus cases.
• The pandemic has been an “absolute nightmare” and a “disaster” for the UK, Boris Johnson has said, as he promised a “whack-a-mole” strategy to tackling local flare-ups of the virus.
• South Korea has reported 42 new infections of Covid-19 as infections steadily climb in the greater Seoul area, forcing authorities to consider stronger social restrictions.
• Broadway is set to remain closed for at least the rest of 2020, with many shows not returning until late winter or even beyond. 

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