One further death as Government announces ‘medium-term plan’ to map out next nine months

There was one further death 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 1,773 while the number of confirmed cases has now reached 26,801 after another 35 were diagnosed.

Meanwhile, a new “medium-term plan” will be devised next week by the Government which will take the country through the next six or nine months of living with the virus, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.

“As different events unfold there will be different types of responses,” he said.

He added that weekly testing will be introduced at all meat plants and direct provision centres across the country.

Mr Martin said the rate of community transmission of the virus is “stable” and the biggest concern now is around “vulnerable groups in congregated settings”.

Asked if the Cabinet is planning for the re-introduction of more phases of reopening, he said: “No, we have opened up to a considerable degree our economy and our society.

“Like other countries, there has been an increase in numbers. We have got to look to and plan ahead in terms of potential scenarios that might emerge, but also how we might maintain that level of economic activity over the next six months, whilst protecting people and whilst keeping the level of community transmission low.

“That is the ongoing challenge now.”