CARE HOME SHOCK:
»»Outbreaks at facilities climb by 10 in a single day »»Chief Medical Officer on concern for most vulnerable
THE number of Covid-19 clusters in nursing homes rose by 10 in a single day, bringing the total number to 50.
The amount shot up rapidly in under two weeks, with only nine reported by March 24 – a nearly five-fold increase in just 13 days.
Most of these clusters are in the east of the country in private facilities but there are reports across the country of others, with the HSE confirming yesterday there are cases in nine of their nursing homes.
A cluster is defined as three or more cases in a single institution for a 72-hour period.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan expressed concerns on Friday on the high number of clusters in our nursing homes, where many high risk individuals live.
He said: “We need to see continuous actions being taken to reduce the risk of transmission in nursing homes and long-term residential facilities.”
Dr Holohan added on Saturday: “The nationwide, collective effort to limit the spread of Covid-19 has been inspiring. We must keep up this effort, continue to protect the vulnerable in our society and ultimately flatten the curve.”
The HSE revealed it was sending response teams to nursing homes to help battle the spread.
They were being sent to 38 locations where clusters have been identified, in order to assist staff.
There are now 37 clusters in hospitals, 18 in residential institutions and 11 in community hospitals or long stay units, a rise of 17 in a single day.
Health Minister Simon Harris announced new measures to assist nursing homes at a briefing on Saturday, with an expected €72million in costs.
The new scheme involves twicedaily staff screening, priority testing and financial support for affected facilities in order to reduce the spread. The scheme will last for three months, with a review taking place after the first month.
There are also plans to bring an infection protection adviser to every nursing home in the country, a Covid-19 control team focused solely on these locations and a risk assessment by the Health Information and Quality Authority.
Mr Harris said: “We know the regulators know the nursing home sector. We want them to work in a supportive manner to provide any additional supports or advice that our nursing homes will require.
“The primary goal must be to put as many protective measures in place for those vulnerable within our nursing home settings.”
Nursing Homes Ireland welcomed the new measures.
Chief Tadhg Daly added: “Our oldest people have provided great service to our country and our nursing homes are doing everything possible to appropriately support them during the biggest societal challenge we have faced.
“As previously stated by the minister, we cannot leave anybody behind in this national health emergency.”
The coronavirus lockdown is almost certain to continue for weeks after Easter, but could be eased on a “county by county” basis, it emerged yesterday. The Government is scrambling to look at measures to get the economy up and running again, as irreversible economic damage sets in from the severe Covid-19 restrictions.
But as Ireland struggles with a shortage of testing equipment, the draconian restrictions look set to remain after the initial deadline of April 12.
It is understood there will be another two weeks of lockdown but at the end of this period there could be a loosening of the restrictions in some areas depending on the number of cases present.
One idea to balance public health needs with the economy is to phase out the lockdown on a county by county basis, but with over half of all cases in the capital, this strategy is likely to cause problems.
The National Public Health Emergency Team will meet later this week to decide whether they should alter current restrictions.
Tanaiste Simon Coveney warned the restrictions are likely to continue for longer than expected.
He said: “We’ve set an initial period, but I think it may well be that we’ll need to go beyond that initial deadline. But again, that will be a decision taken with the best public health advice we can get.”
The Government passed emergency legislation 11 days ago which gives them the power to extend the current lockdown into the summer months. However, it cannot pass further legislation until a new Taoiseach is elected.