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There have been 482 more cases of the coronavirus in the State and seven more deaths related to the disease.
This brings the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began to 67,099, while the death toll rises to 1,972.
The number of new cases was an increase from Thursday’s total of 395.
Of the last 482 cases, 61% were under 45 years old and the mean age was 35 years.
About 128 were in Dublin, 45 in Cork, 43 in Waterford, 24 in Donegal, 24 in Meath, 36 in Limerick, and the remaining 182 cases were spread over 20 other counties.
At 2pm on Friday, 258 Covid-19 patients were hospitalized, of which 35 were in the ICU. There were 12 additional hospitalizations in the last 24 hours.
Dr. Tony Holohan, Medical Director of the Department of Health, said: “The increase in the number of Covid-19 cases today is an important reminder of the unpredictable nature of this highly infectious disease.
“The hard work done by all of us over the past three weeks is commendable, but we must not allow our success to date to lower our guard against the spread of this disease.
“We must stand firm on public health advice: keep a distance of 2 meters, wash our hands, wear face covers when appropriate, and limit ourselves to essential contacts in our home. If we can maintain high levels of compliance, we can get to where we need to be on December 1. “
Earlier, Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed that the Government was planning a gradual exit from the shutdown in early December.
This would allow families to celebrate Christmas together where people live in different counties and, to some extent, for people to get together and socialize with friends.
However, Mr Martin said that people would not go “to the whip” or to the Christmas holidays, when Ireland comes out of lockdown next month.
Going to level 3 of the Living with Covid-19 plan by December 1 was the “goal,” according to the Taoiseach.
Christmas restrictions
Under Tier 3, individuals must remain within their county unless traveling for work, education, or other essential reasons, and home visits are limited to another home.
The government is expected to consider further relaxation of inter-county travel restrictions and home visits specifically for the Christmas period in late December, the sources said.
Mr. Martin told RTÉ Radio that “the fact that we are doing well gives us flexibility”, but “it will not be the same Christmas as last year”.
In Northern Ireland, another 607 people tested positive for Covid-19, the Northern health department said.
Another 11 deaths were recorded, bringing the death toll in Northern Ireland to 836.
The North Executive agreed to a one-week extension of the Covid-19 restrictions, after days of bitter division among ministers on whether to allow the reopening of the hotel industry.
Barbers, salons, and driving instructors will be able to return to work on November 20, but by appointment only. The cafes may open until 8 pm from the same day, but the sale of alcohol is prohibited.
Pubs, bars and hotels will be able to sell closed sales from November 20 and fully reopen a week later, although licensed venues south of the border will remain closed.
There are still several hundred new infections each day in the North: Monday was 471, Tuesday 514, Wednesday 791 and Thursday 548. – PA
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