COVID-19 LATEST: Nowlan Park to be used as drive-thru test centre, surge in new cases, third person dies from virus

A third person has died from Covid-19 as a surge of new cases were confirmed across the country this evening.

The number of confirmed cases has risen by 191, bringing the total to 557 in the Republic, according to the Department of Health.

Northern Ireland earlier recorded the first death of a patient with Covid-19. A total of 77 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in the North, up nine from yesterday.

Earlier today it emerged the home of Kilkenny GAA is to be used as drive-thru centre for Covid-19 testing.

Kilkenny GAA confirmed it was happy for Nowlan Park to be used in the fight to combat the spread of the virus following a request from the Health Service Executive.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty has warned that as many as 400,000 people across the country could lose their jobs as a result of the Covid-19 emergency.