The HSE to give its weekly update on the #COVID19 situation today.

Testing delays and backlogs, nursing home safety, lockdown measures and ICU capacity all likely to be among the major questions for health officials at 11am.

Should be starting at 11.15 now.

A real life press conference which makes a change from the tele-link ones of recent weeks.

New data from the HSE:

Overall 72,000 tests completed.

150,000 total referrals for testing.
10,000 of them Healthcare workers.

55,000 total swabs taken (1,300 per day)

11,000 swabs awaiting testing.

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Paul Reid: There have been many supply chain issues for testing kits, the reagents, PPE... We have built up capacity in our labs in recent days.

Reid: We have 20 hospital labs in action for testing. We have a community lab in Cherry Orchard. We have UCD. We have the German laboratory. We have enfer and the Dept of Agriculture in Backweston.

25 total labs.

8,000 is the highest number of tests completed in labs on a given day. (April 11th)

An average of 2,800 tests completed per day since the beginning of the outbreak.

Reid: We will need an operating model for testing long after other countries have dropped their restrictions. Even after Ireland has started to lift restrictions, we will need testing.

Reid: We had a maximum backlog of 35,000 and we're pleased to say we have dropped that to 11,000.

Reid: Our aim is by the end of the week to have NO backlog.

Our turnaround times for tests in hospitals is about 36 hours.

In the community, we have further work to do.

Reid: There are still significant uncertainties ahead for us.

Continuous supply of reagents will be a challenge.

Continuous access to labs in Germany.

This is better engagement and data from the HSE. Some real numbers - some gaps remain but we'll try to get clarity on those.

220,000 calls from patients have been made to GPs about #covid19.

Reid: 55,000 swabs done between ambulance and community test centre.

350 community referrals waiting for appointment.

500 have appointments scheduled.

Average of 1,300 swabs taken at present.

Reid: Tests are turned around much quicker in the hospitals.

In the community, they have to be sent off and come back. We want to bring that wait time down as much as possible.

Reid: We have significant order of PPE from Germany.

We want to keep all of our staff, patients safe.

Batch of €31m order in and dispatched across the country.

Batch 2 order from the 17th April is a €60 million+ order.

Talking with Chinese suppliers of accelerating Batch 3 to come in with Batch 2.

"Major issue with new regulations in China's provinces. This may impact timelines.

"I have just had a call with the Chinese ambassador. Trying to keep our delivery going."

Reid says there is a significant issue with availability of gowns across the country.

"Until we secure next delivery, we will be tight on gowns for the time being."

Reid says they are in a "better position than most countries" but "I won't be comfortable until we have secured everything from China."

Paul Reid thanks #ShineYourLight campaign efforts across the country.

Reid: "We are not through... We are heading into a very, very difficult phase in the coming weeks."

Anne O'Connor, Chief Operations Officer is up now.

She says attendance in Emergency Departments is down but there has been a 12% increase in the past week.

"That's a good sign", she says because it shows people are starting to present with non- #covid illnesses and injuries.

O'Connor: We know there are people suffering. People who have not been able to grieve for loved ones or visit their families.

Visit http://yourmentalhealth.ie  for all of the best advice.

128 referrals to CityWest isolation and step-down facility.

69 currently there.

862 patients in hospital with #Covid19 (8% increase on previous week)

148 currently in ICU.
127 non-Covid in ICU.
275 total in ICU.

Surge plans for ICU goes up to 800.

"There are beds available.*

O'Connor: Nursing homes are our "most significant concern".

550 private nursing homes in total across the country.

She says they've been working closely with them since January on infection controls.

268 outbreaks in nursing homes.

Important she says to note these are not clusters.

214 in older persons.
32 in disability.
4 in direct provision.
3 in prisons.

"We have included private homes in our supply chain for PPE. We had 162 nursing homes on planned cycle this weekend plus more than 300 unplanned."

O'Connor: We know nursing homes have struggled to staff facilities because of illness or other reasons.

We have put nursing staff into units.

We have been working with homecare providers to allow them to work in nursing homes and redeploying Section 39 workers.

O'Connor: Concern about older people in the community who may not be having same support as they used to.

We would urge everybody to keep an eye on anyone who needs their care.

Please contact authorities if you're concerned about vulnerable people.

O'Connor: Formal notice of temporary accommodation for staff during #covid19.

This is for everyone across health (private nursing homes, direct provision residents who work in healthcare).

This will be made available for everyone this week.

Colm Henry up next.

"Care of patients with #COVID19 is important. This takes place in the community and in hospitals."

Henry: We hope not to have to use surge capacity. "We have seen horrendous scenes around the world" of overrun ICUs.

We haven't seen that here he says. "We have seen levelling off of admissions to ITUs and hospitals. It's too early to say if that will continue."

Henry: Many people have been discharged home from ITU.

Pays tribute to all people involved in ITU from cleaners to consultants.

Henry: We have beds in place in hospitals and ICUs for people who do and who do not have #COVID19

Henry: A quick mention to all nursing and medical students who have graduated ahead of time - instead of going on a holiday, they're straight into healthcare.

They and their parents will look back on this with pride when their country needed them."