LATEST: More than 700 new Covid-19 cases confirmed as death toll continues to rise

More than 700 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Ireland on Sunday as the death toll from the virus continues to rise.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been informed that a total of 26 people with COVID-19 have died, of which 23 were laboratory confirmed. There have now been a total of 1,087 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

Sunday saw another rise in the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Carlow with 91 cases recorded here, an increase of three.

It marks an increase of 20 in the last seven days.

As of 1pm on Sunday, the HPSC has been notified of 701 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 19,262 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread.

Data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Friday, April 24 when there were 18,431 cases, reveals:

· 57% are female and 42% are male

· the median age of confirmed cases is 49 years

· 2,576 cases (14%) have been hospitalised

· Of those hospitalised, 349 cases have been admitted to ICU

· 5,064 cases are associated with healthcare workers

·  Dublin has the highest number of cases at 9,224 (50% of all cases) followed by Cork with 1,110 cases (6%)

·  Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 63%, close contact accounts for 33%, travel abroad accounts for 4%