A further three pass away as Minister says full return to school on cards for September

A further three people lost their lives from Covid-19 in the Republic of Ireland in the last 24 hours, the HSE said this evening.

The total death toll here is now 1,705 while the number of confirmed cases has now reached 25,251 after another 13 were diagnosed.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Education has said that his department and the Government are working towards a full return for children to school in September.

Minister Joe McHugh said they must weigh the risk between a failure to provide children with education against other public health considerations.

He added that primary school pupils would only be able to attend school for one day a week if the two-metre social distancing rule is in place.

At second level, the two metre protocol would mean a two-day week for most pupils.