The latest on COVID19 today

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

• The Government is looking at allowing people more freedom to meet each other outdoors from next month in a slight easing of COVID restrictions.

  Plans to re-open construction and lift the 5km travel limit have been cast into doubt by rising numbers of new cases.

• The Foreign Affairs Minister says it doesn't make sense to risk reducing vaccine production by banning exports between countries. 

  The European Union is threatening to ban the export of a stockpile of AstraZeneca doses finished in Italy as the company has missed its European delivery targets.

• 600 people will be vaccinated in Pairc Ui Chaoimh over the next two days.

  Remaining healthcare workers are due to be vaccinated in the centre tomorrow and Friday - which the first of five centres across six locations in Cork that will be vaccinating people, the others are in City Hall, MTU Campus, Bantry Primary Care Centre and Mallow GAA Club.

• NPHET has delayed a key meeting on easing restrictions next month. 

  The public health body was due to meet tomorrow but will now wait until Monday. 

• There are 683 new Covid-19 cases (14 here in Cork) and 18 additional deaths.