Six dead as Laois nursing home f ights virus outbreak

A LAOIS nursing home has been left devastated after six residents died as a result of a Covid-19 outbreak.

Some 49 residents and 33 staff tested positive at Droimnin Nursing Home in Stradbally in the past week, as vaccinations were due to get under way at the 101-bed facility.

Typically, the nursing home employs 75 people.

Gearóid Brennan, the CEO of Brookhaven Health Group, which runs the home, told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that the deaths have ‘devastated’ the local community.

Residents who have not tested positive have now been separated from the rest, he said. ‘It is a huge loss. It has been devastating for everyone on the staff who have worked tirelessly and who have developed very close relationships with residents whom they have grown to love,’ he said.

‘To the community of Stradbally, it has been a devastating blow.

‘I want to give reassurances to everybody that we are working round the clock, doing everything possible for the group and supporting our team in Droimnin Nursing Home to ensure that all of our residents make sure to be protected.’

Mr Brennan said some staff are now living on the nursing home’s grounds to ensure they do not have to re-enter the community.

Agency and HSE staff are now working in the nursing home.

This is the first Covid-19 outbreak in the Laois nursing home, and the CEO said there had been no cases linked to any of Brookhaven’s five nursing homes.

Vaccinations were due to get under way in the nursing home next week but have now been postponed due to the outbreak.

Mr Brennan said that while they do not know how Covid-19 got into the facility, it is thought that it was brought in through the community.