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The vast majority of residents in a nursing home in Co Galway are understood to have tested positive for Covid-19, and the virus has also affected a significant number of care staff at the facility.
A resident of the house died.
Two others are admitted to hospital today after their conditions deteriorated.
The problem began to emerge last Monday, after a resident was taken to the hospital.
A positive Covid-19 test was returned for that person, and samples were subsequently taken from all staff and residents of the home.
At 10 p.m. Tuesday night, when the results of all the tests came in, 25 of the 27 residents were found to be positive for Covid-19.
The virus has also severely affected staff at the facility, with around ten care staff and seven nurses infected.
All have been isolated to reduce the spread of the virus.
As a result, the nursing home is operating with a vastly reduced number of staff today.
Currently, only one nurse and one health worker are on duty, along with ancillary staff at the facility.
Until now, the nursing home was Covid-free.
Staff say all concerned had worked day and night to protect residents and keep the virus at bay.
Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice also raised the issue at the Dáil this afternoon.
The vast majority of residents in a nursing home in Co Galway are understood to have tested positive for Covid-19, and the virus has also affected a significant number of care staff at the facility. | https://t.co/wrSGPw660a pic.twitter.com/TFZd0YVsKT
– RTÉ News (@rtenews) October 22, 2020
Speaking during a health services executive briefing on Covd-19 this afternoon, HSE’s chief operating officer, Anne O’Connor, said the situation at the nursing home was notified to the HSE on Sunday after a resident gave positive.
He said public health knew that a health worker had also tested positive after serial tests and then declared an outbreak there on Sunday, as there were two confirmed cases.
Ms O’Connor said all residents and staff were tested on Monday, and an infection prevention and control nurse attended the home to provide support and education to the nursing home staff.
He said an outbreak control meeting was held on Tuesday and that there have been daily meetings since.
He said that a significant number of staff, both nursing and health workers, tested positive, along with a large number of residents who also tested positive.
He said the rosters are now covered and there are “stable staff for the next three days.”
A dedicated manager providing daily support in terms of access to staff is also available at home,
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