The National Public Health Emergency Team is expected to discuss the issue of nursing homes when it meets later today. It comes as the impact of the vaccination programme on those most vulnerable is becoming evident.
Serial testing in nursing homes is finding just one case of Covid-19 per 500 people. Nursing Homes Ireland said it was hopeful that public health officials would recommend a significant easing of restrictions on visits to nursing homes in critical and compassionate circumstances.
Yesterday, 47 additional deaths of people with Covid-19 were reported in Ireland. Of those, 14 deaths occurred in March, 18 in February and 15 in January.