Travelling abroad is too risky at the moment, warns a microbial diseases expert.

The Department of Health has announced there have been 24 new confirmed cases of the virus in the country.

The chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group for the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) has urged the public to give careful consideration before travelling abroad.

While the spread of the virus is largely contained, there is still more work to do, as the reopening of the economy gathers pace.

Health officials say Covid-19 has essentially been suppressed in institutional settings like nursing homes.

There have been nine more Covid-19 related deaths, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre has announced.

There have been 12 more Covid-19 related deaths today, officials have announced.

The country has been told must “find a new way of living” as severe restrictions on personal freedoms are to be extended beyond next Tuesday.

Ireland’s death toll from Covid-19 has risen past 600 after a further 39 people lost their lives to the disease.

Managing the reproduction rate of Covid-19, or how many people are infected by someone with the disease, will be key to whether the national lockdown can be eased at the next deadline date of May 5.

In total, there has now been 263 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland.

The Chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group and a member of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), Professor Philip Nolan has said that the next seven days will be crucial as an indication if Covid-19 is being contained.