A second patient has died of the Covid-19 virus in Ireland, chief medical officer Tony Holohan told journalists at a press conference today.
The person who passed away is reportedly a man in the east of the country who had underlying medical issues.
The HSE is now seeking to ascertain any contacts the patients may have had, to ensure they receive the necessary information and advice to curtail further spread of the disease.
There are 39 new confirmed cases bringing the total number of cases in the Republic to 129. That's the largest single increase in the country since the virus was first recorded here.
According to Breaking News, five new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Northern Ireland bringing the total number of cases there to 34 and the total on the island of Ireland to 163.
