Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
110 CARE HOMES HAVE COVID
14 people dead in one facility from bug Stay at home over Bank Holiday warning Arlene gives backing to face masks strategy
AT least one in five Northern Ireland care homes have been hit by coronavirus, it was revealed yesterday.
There are 483 facilities in total here and 110 have suspected cases – 75 of which have been confirmed by the Public Health Agency.
And it was revealed 14 residents had died from Covid-19 at a single facility in Killyleagh, Co Down.
Pressure has been mounting in recent weeks with calls for greater transparency around the reporting of the killer bug’s true scale in care homes.
Yesterday, the coronavirus death toll in Northern Ireland rose to 422 with a further four confirmed.
And as the Executive urged people to stay at home this Bank Holiday weekend, Arlene Foster said face coverings should be “considered” by the public when in areas where social distancing is not possible.
THE devastation of coronavirus in Northern Ireland’s care homes is to be laid bare – after it emerged 110 had suspected cases.
A leaked report also showed 95% of residents in one facility had tested postitive for deadly Covid-19.
Health chiefs said yesterday they would publish more information amid demands for greater transparency.
Meanwhile, the number of Covidrelated deaths here has risen to 422, with a further four reported.
First Minister Arlene Foster said details about the infection rate at individual care homes had always been intended for publication.
She added: “That information was going on for the public to see and nobody has more detail than we have in NI across the UK in relation to our care homes and it’s unfortunate that that was leaked because it was going out to the public after it had been checked.
“The reason why we want all that information is so we can try to manage the situation.”
Commissioner for Older People Eddie Lynch has called for “complete transparency” on the number of outbreaks and covid-related deaths in the sector. The latest available data shows 40% of Covid-related deaths in NI occured in care homes.
There are 483 homes in NI, with 110 having reported suspected cases – 75 of which have been confirmed by the Public Health Agency. My Lynch said information about care home deaths should be treated the same as hospital deaths, which are reported by the department every day.
But he said he “respected the need” for anonymity for individual care homes and claimed publicising their names would be unhelpful.
Already there have been reports of clusters of deaths at care homes
in Derry and Glengormley. Yesterday the BBC reported 14 residents at a Ringdufferin Nursing Home in Killyleagh care home had died from Covid-19 and 39 had tested positive for the virus.
Mr Lynch said: “Unfortunately we are now at the point the absence of transparency is leading to calls for the information to be made public. COPNI is of the view families and relatives should have whatever information they need in a timely manner and provided openly and honestly.”
Health Committee chair and Sinn Fein MLA Colm Gildernew said the figures should be released as a matter of public interest. He added:
“Families need to be informed if there is a positive case within a care home of a relative. It is a deeply worrying time especially for residents and family members who have not been able to see each other for many weeks. I am calling on the Department of Health to provide clarity as to why they have not published detailed data on the spread and impact of Covid-19 within care homes.” A department spokesman said “regional level” data was being gathered by Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority on a daily basis – but was not yet ready for publication. He said once complete, NI would have the “most complete information” on the sector of anywhere in the UK or Ireland.
He added: “Work is continuing to ensure extensive surveillance of the situation is being undertaken by homes across NI.”