There have been 16 further coronavirus-related deaths in the Republic, taking the total to 1,319.

The Department of Health has also announced 266 new confirmed cases, taking the total to 21,772.

As of midnight on Saturday, some 58% of the confirmed cases in Ireland were female and 42% were male.

Nearly one-quarter (6,211) of the confirmed cases were healthcare workers.

Some 2,840 cases had been hospitalised – 13% of the total. Of those, 364 people had been admitted to intensive care.

Dublin accounts for 49% of the country’s cases with 10,561, followed by Kildare with 1,268 and Cork with 1,175.

Some 63% of the cases were picked up in the community in Ireland while 34% caught the virus off a previously diagnosed case and 3% were known to have travelled abroad.

It comes after the HSE has recorded the lowest daily number of COVID-19 patients in Ireland’s hospitals for roughly three weeks.

There are 665 patients being treated for the virus in hospital.

There are 93 people in intensive care – down from 160 at the start of April.

Meanwhile, the Mental Health Commission warned of “significant inconsistencies” in the way staff are being tested for COVID-19.

The commission said it contacted mental health services across the country and found that testing was planned at some, while others had yet to hear anything.

Exterior and logo of the University of Utrecht, 11-30-2020. Image: Pro Shots Photo Agency/SIPA USA/PA Images

Internationally there was some good news, with the announcement of “ground-breaking research,” which uncovered an antibody which may prevent COVID-19 from infecting human cells.

Meanwhile, a new COVID-19 antibody test, said to be 99.8% accurate, could soon be available in Ireland.

Finally, Irish publicans  have set out a series of “radical proposals” aimed at getting the country’s pubs open sooner than planned by the Government.

They are pushing for pubs to be allowed to open at the same time as restaurants and cafés.