LATEST: No further deaths but 42 new cases of virus, gardai may not be able to enforce ban on private parties

There has been no further coronavirus related deaths but 42 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed this evening.

The overall death toll as a result of the virus remains at 1,777 . There are now 28,760 confirmed cases of Covid-19 across the country.

No new infections were recorded in Kilkenny, according to the latest daily briefing from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).

The new cases were confirmed as the General Secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), Antoinette Cunningham, today warned that any attempt to introduce a law for gardaí to enter private homes is “fraught with difficulties”.

Ms Cunningham said she does not see how the measure could be practically implemented.

Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week programme, Ms Cunningham said entering a person’s private home can only be done under the strictest of conditions in accordance with law.

According to Covid-19 guidelines, social visits to homes should be limited to a maximum of six visitors from no more than three households.

But the AGSI chief said enforcing such a measure poses serious challenges for gardai.

Ms Cunningham said: “The entering of a person’s private home can only be done in the strictest conditions in accordance with law and usually under warrant. And any attempt to introduce law for gardaí to enter into a private dwelling, we think is fraught with difficulties.

“We’re glad to see the Government is giving it serious consideration because we can’t see how it can be practically implemented by our members.”