The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan has announced another 16 coronavirus related deaths and 129 new confirmed cases.
It brings the death toll in the Republic to 1,518 and the total number of cases to 23,956.
There's no change to the number of cases in Waterford City and County. As of midnight on Wednesday there were a total of 144 cases since the outbreak began.
There have now been a total of 1,518 #COVID19 related deaths in Ireland. Validation of data at the HPSC has resulted in the denotification of 4 deaths. The figure of 1,518 deaths reflects this.
— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) May 15, 2020
Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; "Earlier today, Government announced Phase 1 of the COVID-19 Roadmap will commence from Monday 18th May.
"As we ease restrictions that were implemented in recent weeks, the core message remains the same, ‘stay at home’ where possible and follow public health behaviours to limit the spread; hand washing, respiratory etiquette and physical distancing.
"I urge everyone to remember how easily this virus can spread, how quickly we could lose the progress that the country has worked so hard to achieve."
Dr. Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, said; "Over a very short time period we have witnessed a whole of society effort to stop this virus in its tracks. Across Government, our health, social care and emergency services, Gardaí and Defence Forces, businesses and the non-profit sector, media and general public at large, it has been heartening to witness such collective action."
Dr Siobhan Ni Bhriain, Consultant Psychiatrist and HSE Integrated Care Lead, said: "These past weeks have been particularly difficult for those who have been cocooning from family, friends and society. Today, I hope new measures will bring some relief to this group and that they know we as a society are supporting them wherever possible, including by adopting safe behaviours in physical distancing, hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette."
