Covid-19: Evening Update

Here's a reminder of today's Covid headlines

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 11 additional deaths related to COVID-19, and 420 new cases - 17 of which are here in Cork.

190 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalised and 53 of those are in Intensive Care

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There have been calls on the government to immediately publish its plan to reopen hospitality here.

The Vintners Federation of Ireland says pubs in the North have been told they can resume indoor drinking and dining by the end of April, while the full reopening of hotels and B&Bs is expected in the North by May 24th.

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Ireland’s current Covid numbers are 'better than anything we could have hoped for a few weeks ago', according to the Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn. 

NPHET yesterday said new virus cases are now dropping steadily. 

There are fewer than 200 people in hospital with Covid, the lowest level since mid-December.

Dr Ronan Glynn says the improvement is down to people following the public health advice.

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The European Commission confirmed it has written to the government over its concern about Ireland's Mandatory Hotel Quarantine system.

It wants an explanation of the criteria being used to include countries on the list.