LAST UPDATE | 16 May 2020

HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE confirmed further 15 deaths from Covid-19, along with 92 new cases of the virus in Ireland.

It brings the total number of deaths in Ireland to 1,533. The total number of confirmed cases in Ireland has now reached 24,048.

Today’s figures come after the Taoiseach confirmed yesterday that Ireland would enter Phase One of the government’s roadmap for lifting the country’s Covid-19 restrictions.

And there have been similar developments internationally. In Italy – which at one stage was the epicentre of the virus – the government has signed a decree allowing the country’s borders to re-open from next month.  

Here are today’s Covid-19 main points:

• The Chief Medical Officer has said seven children’s cases have been investigated for a possible inflammatory syndrome linked to Covid-19.
• The government has confirmed that the country will begin easing Covid-19 restrictions from Monday.
• Health officials confirmed 16 more deaths and 129 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland last night.
• The Department of Health in Northern Ireland have today confirmed four more deaths from Covid-19 and diagnosed a further 40 cases. 
• The HSE has confirmed that healthcare staff who are designated as close contacts of confirmed Covid-19 cases could be required to return to work early if they are asymptomatic.
• Senior doctors have called for an urgent increase in hospital beds to help clear the treatment backlog caused by coronavirus.
• An expert group has been established to offer guidance to sporting bodies in Ireland preparing for a return to action.
• Wicklow County Council has announced it will re-open a number of car parks at popular walking sites, which have been closed since March, on Monday.
• Minister for Transport Shane Ross has said he has asked the Road Safety Authority to produce a roadmap for the phased resumption of NCT and driving tests.
• The National Transport Authority say that transport companies will continue to operate under revised timetables under Phase One of the government’s roadmap.
• The government has established an expert group on returning to sport, which will provide guidance to Ireland’s sporting bodies to prepare for the phased return to sporting activity.

Here are today’s international Covid-19 points:

• The Italian government has signed a decree allowing the country to re-open to tourists from 3 June.
• Spain’s government is to seek a fresh extension of its state of emergency that will last “about a month” until the transition out of lockdown is completed. 
• US President Donald Trump has said he hoped a Covid-19 vaccine would be available by the end of the year.
• The Bundesliga returned in Germany today but looked very different to what we’re used to in professional football. 
• The UK’s Royal College of Psychiatrists has warned that mental health services could be overwhelmed by a “tsunami” of referrals when coronavirus lockdown measures end.
• A three trillion dollar coronavirus relief bill has been passed in the US House of Representatives.
• New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been turned away from a cafe because it was too full under the country’s coronavirus guidelines.

In this week’s episode of The Explainer, we discuss the mysterious syndrome linked to Covid-19 that’s affecting children. You can listen here:

The Explainer / SoundCloud