The latest on COVID19 today

The latest developments on the fight against COVID19 as the virus continues to disrupt everyday life.

• The Health Minister has said he's confident the new system of mandatory hotel quarantine is strong enough to prevent people getting around the rules. 

  The first bookings have been made for the system which comes into place on Friday.

• Covid vaccine manufacturers are working to identify additional production sites in the EU, according to the European Medicines Agency.

  The EMA says if suitable sites are selected they can be approved for use in a matter of days.

• A further 371 new Covid-19 cases have been confirmed this evening - 16 of those are here in Cork while 24 COVID19 related deaths have also been recorded.

• The HSE says restarting non-covid related health care will be done in three phases between now and December.

  The plan would see the full return of cancer services by the end of the year, assuming there is no significant disruption.