The COVID-19 situation over the last nine days in Offaly has been remarkable

There has been no change in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Offaly for nine days.

According to the Department of Health this evening, there were 478 positive cases in Offaly as of midnight, Saturday, May 30, the most recent day for which a county breakdown is available.

It's the same number that were positive at midnight on Thursday, May 21 last.

Although the number did increase by one in the intervening period to 479, the total for Offaly was corrected back down to 478 after a reassessment by the authorities.

The information came as the Department of Health this evening confirmed that there has been one new death from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.

There have now been a total 1,650 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of midnight Sunday, 31 May, there were 77 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 25,062 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer in the Department of Health, commented:

"We have now had more than 25,000 cases of COVID-19 in Ireland and while 90% of patients have recovered, more than 3,285 people have been hospitalised and sadly 1,650 have died.

"COVID-19 is a new disease, for which we have no vaccine and we have no cure.

"As restrictions ease and we begin to resume social and economic life, we must do all we can to prevent a second wave.

"It is vital that we continue to practice hand and cough hygiene and social distancing, with the additional hygiene measure of face coverings in appropriate settings.

"It is important to give space to our vulnerable people when out and about.

"We must continue to do all we can to interrupt the spread of this virus."