Home care workers have called on the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health to immediately help them source surgical face masks as they have just three days' supply available.
Home and Community Care Ireland (HCCI), the national representative body for home care providers, say newly announced recommendations for home carers to wear face masks to protect against Covid-19 have put the sector under severe pressure.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week,HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid said the executive is in negotiations across the world to source "a very rapid and quick supply of masks." HCCI Chief Executive Joseph Musgrave his organisation's members need 170,000 face masks per week and needs to secure more supplies quickly.