297 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in NI nursing and residential care homes

The Stephen Nolan show this morning revealed the figure from the Public Health Agency as of 20 April.

Statistics had already revealed that the virus had been reported in 56 homes in Northern Ireland.

The PHA said it takes a “precautionary approach” to all respiratory infection cases.

It says that individuals are treated as Covid-19 patients regardless of whether tests have been conducted or have produced a positive result.

“Although statistics are important they are of secondary importance to ensuring the right care provision and infection control measures are put in place,” the PHA added.

NHS staff have been drafted in to bolster numbers and are expected to grow, Stormont’s health department said.

Professor Hugo van Woerden, director of public health at the PHA, said: “While a lot of this work goes on behind the scenes, the public should be reassured that we have well-established links with these facilities.

“Whenever we have evidence of Covid-19 or respiratory illness in a home we work intensively to limit spread.

“When the PHA receives a notification of an issue of acute respiratory infection in a care home the agency’s health protection team investigates and supports the provider in managing the outbreak.

“A comprehensive risk assessment is completed of the incident, which includes an assessment of each individual resident and the environment, and an ongoing assessment of the severity, spread and context of the incident.”

He said advice specific to Covid-19 is given regarding isolation, containment and infection prevention and control practice, including cleaning, testing information, how to manage symptoms, when to request additional medical advice and personal protective equipment.

--

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Irish and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Thank you,

Alistair Bushe

Editor