The Department of Health has announced that a further 26 people who were diagnosed with Covid-19 in Ireland have died, with 23 of the cases laboratory confirmed.

It brings the total number of deaths linked to the virus to 1,087.

The department has also confirmed an additional 701 cases, bringing the overall number to 19,262.

Data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre as of midnight on Friday shows that 14% of cases so far have been hospitalised.

The median age of cases is 49, with a split of 57% female, and 42% male, with 1% undocumented.

Of those hospitalised, 349 cases have been admitted to ICU

Over 27% of all cases involve healthcare workers

Dublin has the highest number of cases at 9,224 (50% of all cases) followed by Cork with 1,110 cases (6%)

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The figures come as HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid earlier today said a new model that can deliver over 100,000 coronavirus tests per week has been formally agreed with the Secretary General of the Department of Health and sets out a "road map" on how to get to that level.

Mr Reid said a new national infrastructure to support the country into the future for pandemics will need to be built with more integrated laboratory oversight and more sustainable models around contact tracing.

Mr Reid said we will have to look at the Irish health system through a new lens and fundamentally challenge how we deliver services into 2021 as it becomes clear that Covid-19 will be here for a long time.

Meanwhile, home care workers have called on the HSE and the Department of Health to immediately help them source surgical face masks as they have just three days' supply available.

Home and Community Care Ireland (HCCI), the national representative body for home care providers, say newly announced recommendations for home carers to wear face masks to protect against Covid-19 have put the sector under severe pressure.