FIVE new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed today (Tuesday, August 11) in Clare, out of a country-wide total of 35.

There Health Protection Surveillance Centre has also reported one additional death, nationally.

There has now been a total of 1,773 COVID-19 related deaths in this country.

There is now a total of 26,801 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

Of the cases notified today;

• 15 are men / 18 are women
• 71% are under 45 years of age
• 24 are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case
• 5 cases have been identified as community transmission
• 6 in Carlow, 5 in Clare, and the remaining 24 of the cases are in Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Limerick, Meath, Offaly, Tipperary, Wexford

The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread.

Dr Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “The number of confirmed cases notified to us daily is likely to rise and fall this week. It is important to look at the wider trends we see in this disease in Ireland for context, and not simply one day’s figures in isolation. It will be next week before we see if measures introduced last weekend in Kildare, Laois and Offaly have had the desired effect in suppressing COVID-19 in these areas and minimising community transmission.”

“We must remember that our focus as a society is on three national priorities – protecting public health and the most vulnerable, the resumption of non-COVID health services and the reopening of our schools. Every time you choose to avoid a crowd, keep 2m distance, wash your hands, wear a face covering and use the COVID Tracker App, you are making a vital contribution to this shared national effort.”