*Photograph: John Mangan

Five more deaths and 19 extra cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in the Republic of Ireland while in Co Clare there has been no new case in a full week.

Co Clare has now gone a full week without a single additional case of COVID-19. It is the first time since mid-March that no new case has been recorded in a seven day period for the county. To date, 368 people have been classed as confirmed cases in the county, many of whom have since recovered.

A further five deaths have been confirmed by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre. The death toll in the country is now 1,695 following the de-notification of one death.

In what was over double the amount of additional cases announced yesterday, the HPSC revealed that 19 more individuals had tested positive for the virus. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there have been 25,234 confirmed cases with three de-notified since yesterday.

Director of the National Virus Reference Lab, Dr Cillian De Gascun, has reiterated that face coverings should be worn when physical distancing cannot be maintained. Reports from across Co Clare are that only a minority of people have applied this advice.

Plans are underway to have the country “almost fully open” by mid-July, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (FG) stated on Wednesday. As part of this, the reopening of hairdressers and beauty salons is tipped to be brought forward from the previously scheduled July 20th.

Ireland’s recovery rate is now at 92%, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ronan Glynn confirmed on Wednesday evening. “While it is very welcome that the vast majority of people who contracted COVID-19 have recovered from the acute phase of their illness, there are many who continue to experience longer term effects including fatigue and decreased exercise capacity”.

A meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) is to take place on Thursday morning.

Related News

Trump-Golf-Hotel-50
Trump Doonbeg unable to restore conditions for tiny snail
marie donnellan 1
Marie always remembers Catherine with release of new children's book
21042026_Council__Busstops_0112
Start of Ennis town bus service pushed back again
Screenshot
Two decades of false starts & hundreds of objections later - Galway City Ring Road gets go ahead
Latest News
Trump-Golf-Hotel-50
Trump Doonbeg unable to restore conditions for tiny snail
paul geaney 2
'All of our trips to Cusack Park are testing' says Kerry's Geaney
kerry v clare 06-01-26 ikem ugwueru 3
Clare & Kerry name sides for Munster semi-final
marie donnellan 1
Marie always remembers Catherine with release of new children's book
clare v fermanagh 15-02-26 paul madden 1
'If you are not excited about playing the All-Ireland champions you shouldn't be in the dressing room' - Madden ready for biggest managerial test
Premium
'All of our trips to Cusack Park are testing' says Kerry's Geaney
'If you are not excited about playing the All-Ireland champions you shouldn't be in the dressing room' - Madden ready for biggest managerial test
Rouine exits Clare panel ahead of Munster semi-final
Start of Ennis town bus service pushed back again
Emmet nearing a return to action but Munster campaign will come too soon

Annual Subscription Offer NOW ON!

The Clare Echo has launched a discounted annual subscription for just €39.99 a year. 

Prefer to pay monthly? Click the monthly option and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. 

Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.