Dingle hospital hit by Covid outbreak
FAMILIES of residents in West Kerry Community Hospital are deeply concerned about their relatives as The Kerryman understands that a significant number of cases of Covid-19 have been detected among patients at the residential care facility.
A highly restricted visiting regime and tireless work by staff successfully kept the West Kerry Community hospital free of Covid-19 up to now. However, amid a dramatic increase in the number of coronavirus cases among the community in West Kerry the hospital has also been hit.
According to local sources there were five cases of Covid-19 among patients at the hospital on Monday. The HSE would not confirm this figure and would only say that they were dealing with a number of outbreaks at public and private residential facilities in Cork and Kerry.
The evolving situation casts doubt over the scheduled vaccination programme at the hospital, which is one of the 90 community hospitals and private nursing homes due to receive vaccinations in the coming weeks.
This outbreak in Dingle Hospital comes against a backdrop of rising cases of Covid-19 in the Corca Dhuibhne Electoral Area. The latest official figures show that the area had 75 cases in the fortnight ending on January 4, which equates to a rate of 528.9 per 100,000 of population. Prior to the third wave of the pandemic the highest rate reached in the electoral area was 77.6 per 100,000. This occurred in the fortnight ending on October 19.
Local GPs are now urging people to be diligent about adhering to the public health guidelines.
The outbreak in the hospital is to be expected given the rise of cases in the wider community, according to the HSE.
“When Covid-19 is circulating in the community we can expect to discover some outbreaks in health care facilities despite everyone’s best efforts” a HSE spokesperson said. “The best way of reducing the number of these outbreaks is to reduce the level of community transmission around the country.”
Even if the coronavirus outbreak in Dingle Hospital is an expected outcome, it is sobering news for residents of West Kerry as the hospital is where the elderly and most vulnerable of the community are cared for.
Meanwhile, the HSE confirmed that the staff at West Kerry Community Hospital are part of an ongoing programme of testing at care facilities. “There is ongoing testing of all staff in community hospitals and nursing homes,” the HSE said.
The Kerryman understands that some staff in West Community Hospital come in on their days off to take part in the testing programme. However, the HSE would not comment on whether the testing of staff was mandatory.
The HSE also would not confirm if the planned vaccination programme at the hospital was going ahead according to schedule.
Dr Conor Brosnan said it would be difficult to attribute the dramatic rise in coronavirus cases in West Kerry to any single cause but he felt that people meeting indoors in unventilated areas was probably a very significant factor.
“Ventilated, cold rooms are safer,” he said, adding: “We really have to mind ourselves for the next couple of weeks.”
Conor confirmed that Ionad Leighis an Daingin is continuing to provide a service to patients, but with increased precautions.
“We discuss patient queries on the phone and if necessary patients come in, with appropriate hygiene and masks,” said Conor. “Any patients ringing in with Covid symptoms are referred to Tralee for testing.”