*Photograph: John Mangan
Further cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Co Clare.
In what is the eight consecutive day in which the county has recorded an increase in cases it comes on a day when 85 new cases have been diagnosed nationally.
An unspecified increase has been reported by the Department of Health but the figure is said to be less than five. Dublin (51), Kildare (6) and Meath (6) account for the majority of cases with the remaining 32 located in Clare, Carlow, Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow.
Of the cases, 47% are as a result of close contact with a confirmed case or an outbreak while 16 are due to community transmission.
No further deaths have been recorded across the country, leaving the death toll nationally at 1,777.
Galway 517 (0)
Clare 473 (+2)
Kilkenny 403 (-1)
Laois 385 (+1)
Roscommon 364 (0)
Kerry 329 (0)
Longford 301 (+1)
Wexford 300 (+2)
Carlow 249 (+2)
Waterford 197 (+1)
Sligo 157 (0)
Leitrim 86 (+1)#Covid_19 no additional cases in 10/26 counties as per Tuesday’s figures.— Páraic McMahon (@thepmanofficial) September 3, 2020
Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ronan Glynn reiterated the need for the public to wash their hands, reduce social contacts and maintain social distancing. “This virus relies on human contact. The virus has not changed and neither have the basic measures that keep us all protected. It is these basic measures that are most important to keep COVID-19 under control.
“Remember to wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, to know the safe way to wear a face covering, avoid touching your face, cough into your elbow, reduce your social contacts and keep a physical distance of 2 metres at the top of your mind when you do meet others.”