COVID-19 LATEST: 10 more die as 255 new Coronavirus cases are confirmed

Ten more people have died of the coronavirus as 255 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed tonight.

It brings to 1,819 the total number of cases in Ireland. So far the virus has claimed 19 lives in the Republic. 

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan tonight confirmed that 13 of the Covid-19 fatalities are male. The average age of victims is 79.

Meanwhile, there have been three more deaths were confirmed in Northern Ireland in the past 24 hours. The total number of cases in the North has risen to 241, with 10 deaths overall.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) earlier confirmed that the first batch of a massive order for Personal Protective Equipment for Healthcare workers will begin arriving in Ireland from China on Sunday afternoon.

The HSE order for this essential equipment is worth €200 million. The amount of protective equipment is so large that will require 10 flights just to deliver the first batch of the order, which is valued at €30 million.

In all, the €200 million order has been broken into five batches for delivery and up to 300 flights backwards and forwards to China will be required between now and the end of May to complete the delivery.

The first of the 10 flights with the first batch of equipment will arrive in the country on Sunday.

RTÉ  tonight broadcasting a special live news report at 8pm as people across the country stopped to applaud frontline workers.

The Dáil, which resumed today, also suspended business to join in the applause.