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The coronavirus death toll in Ireland has more than doubled after 10 further victims lost their lives to the virus.<\/p>\nThe coronavirus death toll in Ireland has more than doubled after 10 further victims lost their lives to the virus.<\/p>\n
A total of 19 people infected with Covid-19 have now died in the country.<\/p>\n
The latest update from the National Public Health Emergency Team came on the same night TDs passed emergency coronavirus legislation in the D\u00e1il.<\/p>\n
The D\u00e1il paused business at 8pm to applaud the country\u2019s health workers.<\/p>\n
There were similar scenes on streets through the state as people said thanks to the frontline medics dealing with the pandemic in Ireland.<\/p>\n
There were 255 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland announced on Thursday evening, bringing the total number of cases to 1,819.<\/p>\n
Of the 10 latest victims, three were female and seven were male. Nine were from the east of the country and one in the south.<\/p>\n
The median age of the 19 patients who have died is 79 years old.<\/p>\n
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said Ireland should prepare for more deaths.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are only at the beginning of the curve,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said Ireland cannot stop coronavirus but the nation can work together to \u201cslow it in its tracks\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar made the comment during the lengthy Dail debate on a sweeping package of legislation to deal with the Covid-19 crisis.<\/p>\n
It included measures that aim to prevent evictions and implement a rent freeze throughout the health crisis.<\/p>\n
The Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill, which addresses resources within six departments, including housing and health, passed in the D\u00e1il on Thursday night. It will now be debated in the Seanad on Friday.<\/p>\n
The legislation before the Oireachtas aims to protect tenants and includes a 3.7 billion euro aid package that will see the government contribute to wage packets.<\/p>\n
The emergency measures are part of a major effort by government to mitigate the social effects of Covid-19 and the economic consequences of the virus.<\/p>\n
A reduced number of TDs participated in the marathon session on Thursday, as members followed social-distancing advice by sitting two seats apart.<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar said the emergency legislation is a response to an \u201cunprecedented emergency\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately we cannot stop this virus but working together we can slow it in its tracks and push it back,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur national objective must be to flatten the curve.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can succeed if everyone takes sustained action. Nothing less will do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar said the amount of time spent planning for Brexit means they are in a better position to deal with major changes.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cThe work spent thinking about supply lines, about the impact of a shock to the economy, the money we set aside through prudent management of our finances \u2013 all of this is now being deployed against a different kind of national threat.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cToday\u2019s legislation, to last for the duration of the emergency, will freeze rents, prevent evictions and make it easier for healthcare professionals to re-register and return to work and also enable former members of the Defense Forces to rejoin at the ranks they left.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe truth is, these are extraordinary times.\u201d<\/p>\n
During Thursday\u2019s debate, Fianna F\u00e1il leader Miche\u00e1l Martin said the people of Ireland continue to face real fear and uncertainty.<\/p>\n
Speaking in the D\u00e1il, he added: \u201cTo an extent never seen before, people are subject to major personal restrictions which limit their ability to mix with others, look after family members and go to work.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe measures which we adopted last week and those which we are adopting today are not ones that we would even discuss in normal circumstances.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut clearly, this unprecedented situation has justified, and will continue to justify, an unprecedented response.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Martin also said that Ireland needs a government \u201cwhich can discuss and implement an urgent recovery plan\u201d.<\/p>\n
He called for an introduction of \u201csome form of social partnership model\u201d.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cI believe we need a government which can discuss and implement an urgent recovery plan. In doing this, we should certainly look at the introduction of some form of social partnership model.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis should involve key stakeholders so that there can be real engagement and a true societal response to what will be a plan for our national recovery post-Covid-19.\u201d<\/p>\n
TDs raised concerns about shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline health staff.<\/p>\n
It comes after Dr Colm Henry, Health Service Executive chief clinical officer, said they had been facing challenges securing PPE in a \u201cvery competitive global market\u201d.<\/p>\n
Concerns around safety on construction sites were also raised as some workers struggle to abide by social-distancing rules.<\/p>\n
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said the resources being pumped into healthcare was an opportunity to invest in the system \u201cin every aspect\u201d.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cAt a time of this radical and rapid change, it\u2019s a chance for us to invest in a health system to bring it in the direction we want, and that will require investment.<\/p>\n
\u201cSimilarly, if we have tens of thousands of workers and hundreds of thousands who will be unemployed, we should be looking to really ramping up our public housing program straight away, as a stimulus to come out of unemployment that may come with this economic downturn.\u201d<\/p>\n