Two healthcare workers in Kilkenny have died from Covid-19

Two healthcare workers in Kilkenny, who had tested positive for Covid-19, have died.

Both were staff members at St.Luke's Hospital and are believed to have died in the last 24 hours.

It is believed the two people, a man and a woman, were both middle-aged and have children.

In a statement, the Ireland East Hospital Group, which operates St.Luke's, confirmed the deaths of two of it's staff and extended its sympathies to the families of both people.

It brings to three the number of healthcare workers who have died after contracting coronavirus.

The first healthcare death related to the virus was late last month in the east of the country.

As of lunchtime yesterday, the number of healthcare workers diagnosed with Covid-19 is 2,872.