LAST UPDATE | 22 Apr 2020

A FURTHER 49 reported deaths of patients diagnosed with Covid-19 and 631 new cases of the virus in Ireland were confirmed by health officials this evening.

This brings the total number of confirmed cases in Ireland to 16,671. The total lab-confirmed deaths related to Covid-19 is now 769.

Meanwhile, it has been announced that 29 July is the most likely date by which the Leaving Cert examinations will begin, and that no licences will be issued for events of over 5,000 people until September at the earliest.

Internationally, the UN’s World Food Programme has warned that the world is at risk of widespread famines “of biblical proportions” caused by the pandemic. 

Here are today’s main Covid-19 points:

• A further 49 deaths and 631 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Ireland.
• New figures from the HSE show that hospitals are treating over 700 patients with Covid-19 and that 132 patients are currently in ICUs. 
• Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has said over 9,000 people who had the virus have since recovered.
• Holohan also said it’s “perfectly appropriate” for GPs to conduct nursing home consultations over the phone.
• 29 July is the most likely date by which the Leaving Cert examinations will begin, Education Minister Joe McHugh has said.
• Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has described the predicted unemployment rate of 22% as “horrific” but said Ireland can and will rebuild its economy.
• The INMO has welcomed a change in national policy, which now mandates facemasks in all settings for any healthcare workers who provide care within two metres of a patient.
• The government has announced that no licences will be issued for events of over 5,000 people until September at the earliest.
• Music festivals including Body & Soul and All Together Now have officially been cancelled. 
• Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said health checks are needed to ensure self-isolation for 14 days and tighter monitoring of essential workers who arrive in Ireland from another country.
• Minister for Education Joe McHugh has announced a €10 million fund designed to support the purchase of technology and devices for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Secondary schools will receive €7 million and primary schools will receive €3 million. 
• Supermac’s will start providing a limited service in a number of outlets this week after closing its premises last month due to the pandemic.
• The second phase of a population-wide survey regarding Covid-19 launching today will ask the public which restrictions they would prefer to see lifted.
• Maynooth University will host a virtual open day for Leaving Cert students on Saturday. 
• Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said in an interview with BBC Radio Ulster that she feels “extremely lucky” after recovering from Covid-19. “It is like your whole system has been invaded, and it is upsetting that it had come into the house and had come under my roof,” she said. 
• The organisers of the National Ploughing Championships have acknowledged that physical distancing would be very difficult at the annual event and if there is a risk to the public the championships “won’t be happening”.

Here are today’s international Covid-19 points:

• The world is at risk of widespread famines “of biblical proportions” caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the UN’s World Food Programme has warned.
• A study from the Financial Times has suggested that deaths linked to Covid-19 in the UK could actually be over 41,000, more than double the official figure.
• US President Donald Trump has announced he will place a 60-day pause on the issuing of certain immigration green cards in an effort to limit competition for jobs in a US economy badly hit by the crisis.
• There are now 2.4 million confirmed cases of Covid-19 globally and almost 170,000 reported deaths. 
• The state of Missouri is suing the Chinese Communist Party, seeking damages over what it described as deliberate deception and insufficient action to stop the pandemic.