COVID-19 LATEST: 16 more die as 370 new cases of Coronavirus are confirmed

Sixteen more people have died after contracting Covid-19 as 370 more cases of the coronavirus were confirmed this evening.

It brings the overall Covid-19 death toll to 174. A total of 5,364 people in the country have now contracted the virus.

Earlier it was confirmed there has been a further seven deaths due to Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, bringing the total to 70.

The Public Health Agency later confirmed there are 69 new cases of Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, bringing the total number of infected people across the border to 1,158.

Dr Denis McCauley, chair of the Irish Medical Organisation’s GP Committee, today said he expects Community Assessment Hubs to open after the Easter bank holiday weekend.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime programme, Dr McCauley said the hubs will allow GPs to make assessments outside of their surgeries. These assessments will involve patients who have been triaged over the phone, but of whom doctors are still unsure as to whether they can stay at home or should be referred to hospital for treatment.

He said it is hoped this will allow other patients to visit their GPs as normal “without fear”.

Meanwhile, the number of people dependent on income supports has soared to over 700,000, according to the latest figures from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

Last Friday payments were issued to 507,000 recipients of the €350 per week Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Support payment, which is up from 283,000 a week ago.

These payments are in addition to the 207,000 people on the Live Register receiving “standard” non-Covid-19 – related Jobseeker’s Benefit of €203.

This means a total of 714,000 people are receiving income supports, with 507,000 signing on since 16 March when the Covid-19 pandemic payment was announced.

The department said all payments issued on Friday would be in recipients’ bank accounts or at their local post office from tomorrow.