The latest figures from the Department of Health show 102 new cases in the Republic of Ireland. The total is now 785 nationwide.

That is down slightly on yesterday's increase of 126 and Thursday's figure of 191 new cases, which was the highest daily increase so far.

The department has also released further information on the 584 cases that had been registered by midnight on Thursday.

55% are male and 44% are female, with 29 clusters involving 157 cases. 

Dublin has the highest number of cases at 55%, followed by Cork at 15%.

30% of all cases have been hospitalised but just 2% of those (13 cases) have been admitted to ICU.

25% of all cases are associated with healthcare workers.

Of those for whom transmission status is known, community transmission accounts for 42%, close contact accounts for 23%, travel abroad accounts for 35%.

Twenty two new cases of coronavirus have been recorded in Northern Ireland, bringing the total number to 108.

To date 1 person who tested positive has sadly died.

According to the latest figures from the Department of Health, the total number of tests is 2,186.

Health Minister Robin Swann warned an estimated 15,000 coronavirus deaths could be possible in Northern Ireland in a worst-case “nightmare” scenario, if people do not adhere to measures in place.

Deaths from the coronavirus pandemic topped 12,000 across the globe at 5.10pm (Irish time) on Saturday, according to an AFP tally compiled from official figures.

A total of 12,592 people have died, most in Europe (7,199) and Asia (3,459). 

With 4,825 deaths, Italy has a higher toll than even China (3,255) where the outbreak began late last year.

An additional 53 people have died in England from Covid-19, bringing their total to 220.

Two more people have died in Wales after contracting Covid-19, taking the total number of deaths there to five.

The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Italy has risen to 53,578 from 47,021. Italy reports 793 deaths in 24 hours.

More than 10,000 people in Ireland have been tested for the Covid-19 virus.

Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer with the HSE, said that its strategy is "focused completely" on identifying case, isolating patients and identifying contacts.

He said this is in line with the World Health Organisation strategy of "testing, testing, testing" and is happening on an "unprecedented scale", between hospitals, the National Ambulance Service and soon to be 32 testing centres around the country.

35,000 extra testing kits are available and "ready to go" from today, and a further 20,000 kits will arrive next week, he said.

"This way of testing, bringing it out into the population, is designed to identify as many cases as possible".

For people who are symptomatic, if you've spoken to your GP and it's deemed that you need testing, Dr Henry said people must self isolate for 14 days.

"We will get to you, we will test you", he said.

Nearly one billion people worldwide were confined to their homes as the global coronavirus death toll shot past 11,000 and US states rolled out lockdown measures already imposed across parts of Europe.

The pandemic has completely upended lives across the planet, restricting movement, shutting schools and forcing millions to work from home.

While President Donald Trump insisted the United States was "winning" the war against the virus, individual states dramatically ramped up restrictions, with New York and Illinois joining California in ordering residents to stay home.

The virus death toll surged past 11,000 worldwide, with 4,000 alone in worst-hit Italy where the daily number of fatalities has shot up relentlessly over the past week.

An estimated 900 million people are now confined to their homes in 35 countries around the world - including 600 million hemmed in by obligatory government lockdown orders - according to an AFP tally.

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