A census of mortality of long-term residential care facilities has found that 636 more deaths occurred in residential care facilities between 23 March and 19 April this year compared with the same four-week period last year.
Of the additional deaths, 92% came about due to Covid-19. The census was conducted almost two weeks ago on behalf of the National Public Health Emergency Team led by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan.
It found the total number of deaths that occurred in nursing homes and in residential facilities for people with disabilities during that four-week period was 1,232.
This was more than double the number of deaths that occurred last year. A total of 586 people who died in those care facilities during that period