The Department of Health has announced a further 18 coronavirus-related deaths, taking the national toll to 1,446.

One previously announced death has been denotified after doctors concluded it was not related to the virus.

Another 219 cases have also been confirmed, taking the total to 22,760.

The Health Surveillance Protection Centre said that, as of midnight on Thursday, over 29% of the confirmed cases (6,669) were associated with healthcare workers.

Some 57% of all cases were women with men making up 43% of the total.

There had been 2,954 cases hospitalised, making up 13% of the total and 381 people had been admitted to intensive care.

Dublin had the highest number of cases at 10,948, making up 49% of the total. Kildare was the second-hardest hit with 1,317 cases (6%) and Cork had the third highest figure with 1,205 (5%).

Where doctors were able to tell how their patients picked up the virus, 61% picked it up in the community in Ireland, 35% caught it off a previously diagnosed patient and 3% had recently travelled abroad.

The Minister for Business Heather Humphreys announces the National “Return to Work Safely Protocol” at Government Buildings, 09-05-2020. Image: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Meanwhile, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has been handed powers to close businesses that do not comply with the Government’s new National Return to Work Safely Protocol.

Under the plan, temperature checks and no-handshake policies will become the norm in the workplace and all staff will have to undergo COVID-19 induction training before they return.

It comes as officials say COVID-19 testing may be ramped up meat plants, amid a rise in clusters of the virus at the facilities.

The Department of Health last night confirmed that there are now 10 clusters of the virus in plants across the country, involving 566 confirmed cases.