The Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe yesterday said that Irish GDP is set to fall by 10.5% this year with the labour market bearing the brunt of the economic shock of the coronavirus outbreak. He also said the country will go from a state of near full employment to a peak unemployment rate of 22% in the second quarter, before averaging out at 13.9% for the year.

More than 9,000 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in Ireland have now recovered, official figures indicate. Statistics from the Department of Health show that 8,377 people have recovered in the community while 856 of those in hospital have also recovered.

Bord na Móna has confirmed that after an unprecedented fall in commercial revenues and a collapse in their horticultural sales, the company is to lay off 230 employees. The company said the workers affected would include management, permanent and seasonal employees. It said that all of those impacted will continue to receive 100% of basic pay while the company avails of the wage subsidy scheme introduced during the Covid-19 emergency.

A document published the Health Information and Quality Authority yesterday contains an assessment to see how prepared nursing homes that do not have cases of Covid-19 are for a potential outbreak. Nursing homes will have to complete a self-assessment and prepare for an on-site inspection from social service providers from 29 April onwards. The document reminds that there will be access to personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff working in nursing homes, a voluntary redeployment of staff to designated centres and access to testing and results.

All mass gatherings of over 5000 people are to be banned until the autumn, August or September, under plans set to be announced by the Government due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis. It is understood the decision was taken by Ministers at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning.

The Times reported on the Government’s failure to act on its promise to provide childcare support for essential medical staff during the coronavirus crisis, and Fórsa’s concern about the staffing problems in the healthcare sector. You can read up on it here.

Lastly, your moment of Zen today is brought to you by the carers at Thistleton Lodge who noticed one of their residents kept a photo of his late wife on him at all times. Stay safe everyone.