No new deaths were announced meaning the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland is still 1,777
It comes as yesterday two deaths and a further 156 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed by NPHET.
Of the cases notified today 30 are men and 30 are women, 67 per cent are under 45 years of age, 23 are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case and 16 cases have been identified as community transmission.
In terms of the location of the cases, 39 are in Dublin, 13 in Kildare and the remaining 9 cases are in Cork, Kerry, Laois, Limerick, Longford and Wicklow.
The HSE says it 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 said:
“I know that at times we can all feel powerless against COVID-19. But we are not. Each of us has a range of simple tools at our disposal – knowing the risks, washing our hands, not touching our faces, keeping physically distant, avoiding crowds, limiting visitors to our homes, and wearing a face covering.
"The most powerful tool of all remains our solidarity with one another – by encouraging each other to stick with the basic measures and by continuing to act and adapt together we can suppress the transmission of this virus once again."
Covid-19 in children
Meanwhile, the chair of the NPHET Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group announced that 100 children have tested positive for Covid-19 in Ireland in the last two weeks.
The children are aged between five and 14 years old, according to NPHET.
Speaking on RTÉ, Professor Philip Nolan said there will be Covid-19 clusters in schools, but it is likely such cases will have been contracted at home, rather than in schools themselves.
"There is very little evidence for child to adult transmission in school settings and one of the reasons for that is that teachers and schools are taking appropriate physical distancing precautions."
“It is an unusual teaching practice but nonetheless, it is one we are all going to have to get used to in the coming year," he said.
Statement from the National Public Health Emergency Team
There have been no new deaths reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre @hpscireland today.
There has now been a total of 1,777 #COVID19 related deaths in Ireland.— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) August 23, 2020
