No further deaths for second day in a row as number claiming emergency payments drops by 67,300

There were no further deaths from Covid-19 in the Republic of Ireland for the second day in a row, the HSE said this evening.

The total death toll here is now 1,746 while the number of confirmed cases has now reached 25,638 after another 11 were diagnosed.

Meanwhile, the number of people claiming the the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment has dropped by 67,300 over the last week which means that nearly half of those who were laid off during the crisis are now back working.

Those who wish to continue receiving the PUP have until today to confirm their eligibility at www.MyWelfare.ie.

“Failure to do so may affect their entitlement to continue to receive a payment,” the department said.

There are currently 345,600 receiving the PUP while another 410,000 are currently having their wages subsidised by the State via the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS).

Just under 67,000 employers have registered for the TWSS, with the State paying out just under €2bn in wage supports under the scheme since March 26.