Over 200 deaths added to Ireland's official COVID-19 figures

The Department of Health has tonight moved to adjust the overall death toll from COVID-19 in Ireland by including another 185 deaths which it says were 'probable' COVID-19 deaths.

Along with another 37 confirmed cases reported in the last 24 hours, the addition of the 185 deaths brings the overall death toll to over 1,000, at 1,014.

In a statement, the Department explained that a probable death is a death where a laboratory test has not been done but where a doctor believes a death is associated with COVID-19.

The Department tonight gave the overall number of 'confirmed COVID-19 related deaths' in Ireland as 1,014, indicating that it is now including the probable deaths in its overall figure.

As of 1pm today, 577 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 had emerged nationwide bringing the total to 18,184 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

The number of confirmed cases in Westmeath jumped to over 400. According to the department, there were 409 cases in Westmeath at midnight on Wednesday and 111 in Roscommon.

The latest figures also show that per population, Cavan has now exceeded Dublin in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Westmeath still has the third highest per population rate of cases in the country.

The HSE is also to adopt a new criteria for testing next week, which appears set to widen the level of testing.

Tonight, Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “Every indicator to date suggests that the growth of this disease has either stabilised or suppressed. This is a testament to the efforts made by every individual across Ireland over recent weeks. There is no doubt that your efforts have saved many lives.

“It shows that when public health advice is followed, we can suppress this virus in the long term. Keep going.”