SIX residents of the same north Belfast care home have died after being diagnosed with coronavirus.
Bradley Manor on Crumlin Road confirmed the number of deaths occurred in recent weeks.
Five of these residents were diagnosed in hospital and so are among the already publicly reported cases.
A sixth resident died in the home and so would not have been included the Public Health Agency's daily updates, the care home said.
It comes after Our Lady's care home in west Belfast confirmed four residents diagnosed with coronavirus had died.
A fifth resident was suspected to have died with the virus but it was not yet confirmed.
With visits not permitted during the lockdown, some families have expressed concern about not receiving enough information on their loved ones.
The daughter of one Our Lady's resident diagnosed with coronavirus told The Irish News her family has been struggling to get an update on his condition.
Carleen Maginn, whose father Jim Heaney (78) has dementia, said: "For all we know he could be one of the deceased."
Ms Maginn, who works as a nurse, said her family was told of his coronavirus diagnosis on Saturday morning.
Read more:
- Our Lady's care home staff 'devastated' as four residents die of Covid-19
- Senior health official warns lack of PPE for carers is 'like sending firefighters into blaze without equipment'
She praised her father's care at Our Lady's as "exceptional" and acknowledged the difficulties facing staff, but said measures should be introduced to ensure families are regularly updated.
"It's hard for my mum. She is at home on her own. It's difficult for her because she has been his main carer for 10 years and now she has no contact at all," she said.
"It's just hard. We're reading in the papers that there's five people dead."
She added: "If there was someone who could be assigned an hour a day to contact a relative of each patient. That communication isn't there, and it's vital at this point."
Stormont health minister Robin Swann last week said 20 care homes had coronavirus cases.
In the south, more than half of the Covid-19 deaths have been care home residents. There is no similar data to identify these 'clusters' in Northern Ireland.
Bradley Manor care home, which has 79 residents, stressed that they understand how worrying a time this is for relatives.
A spokeswoman said staff are in "direct contact" with family members and have offered regular video and telephone calls with residents.
Residents are being cared for in their own rooms and are having their temperature tested up to four times a day to help in the early detection of cases.
Staff also have a "good supply" of PPE [personal protection equipment].
The spokeswoman added: "We recognise that this is very difficult time for them too and yet they continue to come to work and look after their elderly residents with the same care and compassion.
"We understand that people are seeking information because they are fearful and feeling powerless.
"We would assure families that if there is any news or change in the condition of their own loved one, we will be in touch with their nominated contact immediately to share this.
"Our staff are very grateful indeed for the support and kindness being shown by the local community."
Gareth Macklin, director of Our Lady's care home, said they are continuing to work closely with health authorities.
"This is a continuously evolving situation and we want to reassure residents, their families and our team that every measure has been, and is being made, to ensure the care of their loved ones as well as all our staff," he said.
Read more:
- Our Lady's care home staff 'devastated' as four residents die of Covid-19
- Senior health official warns lack of PPE for carers is 'like sending firefighters into blaze without equipment'
