A further 19 people with COVID-19 have died in the Republic, bringing the total number of deaths here to 1,303.

Two deaths that had previously been classed as COVID-related have been denotified, the Department of Health said.

Meanwhile, 330 new cases of the virus have been confirmed, bringing the total number of cases here to 21,506.

Data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre shows that of the 21,604 cases reported to it as of midnight on May 1, 2,825 have been hospitalised and of these 363 have been admitted to ICU.

Some 6,068 cases are associated with healthcare workers.

Earlier today, the HSE said that is preparing a plan that would allow private hospitals to carry out urgent procedures that are not related to COVID-19.

While more than 950 people are currently in hospital with confirmed or suspected COVOD-19, this is less than the HSE had feared would require hospitalisation.

As a result, the HSE now wants to deal with some of the non-COVID health services that had to be delayed as a result of the pandemic. However, it added that it has to make sure if has the capacity to deal with a potential second surge of the illness.

COVID-19 is spread through close contact with an infected person's body fluids (e.g. droplets from coughing or sneezing), or by touching surfaces that an infected person has coughed or sneezed on. It can take up to 14 days for symptoms of the virus to show. These may include a fever, a persistent cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

COVID-19 can also cause more severe illnesses, including pneumonia and severe breathing difficulties. Some 80% of cases will be mild to moderate, 14% will be more severe, while 6% will be critical.

The current restrictions in relation to COVID-19 are now in place until May 18. As part of these restrictions, everybody is asked to stay at home, except in specific circumstances. These include:
-Travelling to and from work in circumstances where the work is an essential health, social care or other essential service that cannot be done from home
-To shop for essential food and household goods
-To attend medical appointments
-For vital family reasons, such as caring for children or elderly people
-To take brief individual exercise within your locality, which may include children from your household, however this should be within 2km of your home. From May 5, people can exercise within 5km of their home.

All public and private gatherings of any number of people outside a single household or living unit are prohibited.

Those over the age of 70 and medically vulnerable people continue to be cocooned, however from May 5, those over the age of 70 can leave their home for exercise, as long as they stay within 5km of their home and socially distance themselves from everybody.

ALONE, the organisation that supports older people to age at home, is running a national support line for older people facing difficulties due to COVID-19. The support line is open every day from 8am to 8pm, call 0818 222 024.

For more information on COVID-19, click here.