The number of staff at Limerick's hospital group who are now off work or self-isolating as a result of a Covid-19 infection outbreak has risen to 221, up from 161 last week.
The group has confirmed that most of those affected work at University Hospital Limerick, the region's acute hospital. Further cases emerged as testing and tracing continued at the hospital last week.
One staff member tested positive and then contact tracing affected further members of various hospital teams. Those affected include staff who tested positive for Covid-19 through workplace and community transmission, close contacts of those cases, as well as any staff who are showing symptoms and who are staying off work in line with health guidelines.