Smallest number of new cases in country in Westmeath on Thursday

A further three cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Westmeath during Thursday as health officials confirmed 1,000 new cases and three more deaths in Ireland.

It's the smallest number reported in any county in the country during Thursday - and a big contrast to the 45 cases reported during Wednesday.

The number of cases in the county in the last 14 days (to midnight on October 14) is 187. The total number of cases in Westmeath is now 975.

There were seven new cases reported in Roscommon, bringing the total there to 598.

Meanwhile, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been notified of 3 additional deaths related to COVID-19.

There has been a total of 1,841 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of midnight Thursday, there were 1,000 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 47,427 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

Of the 1,000 cases notified, 71% are under 45 years of age and the median age is 31 years old.

254 of the cases were in Dublin, 102 in Meath, 88 in Cork, 81 in Cavan, 75 in Galway and the remaining 400 cases were spread across 20 counties.

As of 2pm today 246 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 30 are in ICU. 13 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

Dr. Tony Holohan, dhief medical officer, Department of Health said: “Case numbers are continuing to rise.

"Right now, we need everyone to cut their social contacts to an absolute minimum.

"Every time you physically interact with another person, you are providing an opportunity for the virus to spread