The deaths of a further 38 COVID-19 patients were announced in Ireland over the weekend, bringing the total to 158.

Meanwhile 360 new cases on Saturday and 331 new cases on Sunday brings the number of confirmed cases in the republic to 4,994.

Data released on Sunday - covering the cases reported up until midnight on Friday - shows that 165 cases have been admitted to intensive care.

Some 1,163 of the confirmed cases (26%) are associated with healthcare workers, while 236 clusters involving 903 cases have been identified across the country.

Health Minister Simon Harris at the Department of Health today. Photo: Leah Farrell / RollingNews

Nursing homes will receive extra payments to help them deal with the coronavirus crisis, the Government has announced.

A range of other measures have also been announced to help homes deal with the crisis.

Each nursing home will also be identifying a COVID-19 lead, and coronavirus testing will be prioritised for staff.

The HSE will also provide access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), expert advice and training.

HSE CEO Paul Reid has acknowledged that 20% of the first batch of personal protective equipment (PPE) that has arrived in Ireland - mostly masks - is not suitable for general healthcare use.

It comes amid concerns over the quality of some of the protective equipment that has been received from a Chinese supplier over the past week.

Mr Reid said the Executive has told the supplier - who has been 'cooperating with the HSE' over the issue - that it does not want any more of the equipment that isn't suitable in the next orders.

65% of the PPE received is useful, another 15% - mostly gowns - is acceptable as an alternative to a preferred product, while 20% is not suitable for use by healthcare workers here.

Police at the scene at Etna Drive in the Ardoyne area of Belfast, where a man has died following a shooting. A burnt-out car was reportedly found nearby.

A fourth person has been arrested in Northern Ireland in connection with the 'brutal killing' of a man in Belfast yesterday.

The shooting happened in broad daylight at Etna Drive in north Belfast shortly before midday yesterday.

The man who was shot is thought to be a Dublin criminal who had been told by gardaí that his life was in danger.

He is believed to be a suspect in the killing of Drogheda teenager Keane Mulready Woods - the 17-year-old who was abducted and killed earlier this year.

Two men have been charged in Northern Ireland in connection with the robbery of two ATMs in county Louth.

The theft took place in the early hours of yesterday morning at two separate banks in Dundalk.

The raiders also set two cars on fire outside both entrances to Dundalk Garda Station in an effort to stop gardaí responding to the robbery.

Suspects were subsequently intercepted the Garda Armed Support Unit but, following a chase, the suspects made their getaway over the border into Northern Ireland.