A further 936 new cases of Covid-19 have been diagnosed in Ireland.

The Department of Health has announced that 28 people who had been diagnosed with coronavirus have died since yesterday’s figures were shared.

Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan revealed the stark figures, the highest yet, at a media briefing on the ongoing crisis held this evening, with the total number of cases now at 17,607.

Dr Holohan said the significant increase in the number of people diagnosed with the virus in Ireland is due to increased testing in residential settings and nursing homes, which make up a large number of the 319 clusters in residential care facilities.

Statement from the National Public Health Emergency Team

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that 28 people diagnosed with #COVID19 #Coronavirus in Ireland have died.

— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) April 23, 2020

It was also revealed that people have been flouting the strict guidelines on social distancing and movement in recent days.

Dr Holohan said that seismic activity data, which measures the levels of human-made ground vibrations and rumbles, also known as ‘seismic noise’, shows that there are more vehicles on the roads, meaning more people are on the move than last week.

‘Complacency is the new enemy’

At a meeting of the Dáil earlier today, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar warned politicians that complacency was the new enemy.

Mr Varadkar reiterated that easing nationwide restrictions when the timing is right is the only way to avoid a dangerous second wave of infections and protect vulnerable people.

Inside Leinster House, social distancing restrictions meant that a limited number of politicians were allowed to enter the chamber. While the idea of virtual meetings has been considered, it was decided that holding the discussions online would fall short of the requirements of the Constitution.