Infection-control squads to be sent into nursing homes hit by clusters to prevent further spread
Nursing homes that are at risk of being overwhelmed by the corona virus crisis are to be targeted by a squad of infection-control experts in a bid to prevent the illness spreading to vulnerable residents.
The HSE is to send a team of doctors and nurses into the nursing homes that are struggling.
A ban on agency staff working in different nursing homes - increasing the risk of passing on the virus - has also been ordered.
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan, whose expert group have ordered a set of measures to relieve the crisis in the sector, said: "We are concerned with the number of clusters identified in nursing homes. We have identified a range of measures, working with the HSE.
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We need to see continuous actions being taken to reduce the risk of transmission in nursing homes and long-term residential facilities."
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t comes as the number of nursing homes hit by a cluster of the virus increased to 38 after it was revealed residents in a number of facilities died of the virus, with large numbers of staff also infected.
Health Minister Simon Harris is due to tell nursing homes that a financial package of supports to increase Fair Deal payments will be offered in a bid to offset their extra costs, from hiring healthcare workers and cleaning staff to fight the virus.
Tadhg Daly, of Nursing Homes Ireland, said yesterday his organisation had sought extra investment and it was also waiting for extra supplies of vital protective wear for staff
The moves come as the national death toll from the virus rose to 120, with the families of another 22 people mourning the loss of their loved one.
They were 11 women and 11 men, from the east, south and west of the country with a median age of 80.
Another 424 people - a new high - tested positive for the virus, bringing the total to 4,273 confirmed cases.
Dr Holohan said the most up-to-date figures showed that there were 110 patients in intensive care. Overall, there have been 156 admissions so far, 15 of whom died and 31 of whom were discharged.
He warned, however, that the fall in the daily growth rate in new confirmed cases of the virus, down from 33pc to 10pc, was still not enough to ensure hospitals would be able to cope with an influx of seriously ill patients.
It will be at least another week - marking a fortnight after the start of the near lockdown - before a clearer picture of the success of the emergency measures can be calculated.
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It will be another seven to 10 days and we will see what the rate of growth is at that point," he said.
The latest analysis of figures here show 948 healthcare workers have been infected and most of these are in the east of the country, with a minority picking up the virus in the workplace.
It has also emerged that some of a consignment of protective equipment and clothing for healthcare workers - sent here from China last weekend - is unusable.
Doctors have complained about the tough material, lack of protection in sleeves, and the smaller size of some of the clothing.
Dr Colm Henry of the HSE said some respiratory masks were categorised as surgical masks and long-sleeved gowns were more akin to body suits.
A portion of the equipment cannot be distributed and the HSE, which has ordered nearly 60 plane-loads of the gear, are to go back to the supplier.
It is also working with manufacturers in Limerick to provide a domestic supply of surgical masks.
Asked about progress in coronavirus testing, Dr Henry said a large number had been sent to a laboratory in Germany for processing and they were due to be returned from this evening.
The outsourcing will allow the Irish laboratories time to work on responding to the shortage of a reagent which had been leading to delays.
The HSE has declined to name the German laboratory involved.
Meanwhile, the official advice on the wearing of face masks by the public is unchanged following consideration by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Mike Ryan of the WHO said there was a healthy debate under way on the use of face masks.
They can be used for people who are ill at home and people caring for others who are sick.
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