The Secretary General at the Department of Health has said that nearly one fifth, or 18%, of residents in nursing homes have had a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19.
In his opening statement to the Oireachtas special committee on Covid-19, Jim Breslin said it was due to the enormous efforts of staff in nursing homes that 56% of homes have remained virus free and the great majority of residents never contracted the virus.
Today was the eighth meeting of the committee, which heard from representatives of the HSE and Department of Health on how nursing homes have coped during the pandemic.
There was discussion about the future of care of the elderly and the most senior person within the Health Service Executive said change is needed.