Northern Ireland

Around 95% of residents in one care home have Covid-19

One nursing home in the north has reported that 95% of its residents have coronavirus
One nursing home in the north has reported that 95% of its residents have coronavirus One nursing home in the north has reported that 95% of its residents have coronavirus

One care home in the north has reported that almost all its residents have tested positive for coronavirus.

The BBC's Nolan Show reported this morning that 36 residents out of 38 in the home had received positive tests.

Another home had a 59% infection rate, with 29 of its 49 residents testing positive. And a third home reported half of its 72 residents - 36 people - had Covid-19.

The names and locations of the homes were not released.

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The figures have emerged amid fears about the impact the virus is having on vulnerable elderly people in homes.

There are also growing concerns about a lack of transparency around infection rates, with questions asked over why the level of Covid-19 in individual named nursing homes has not been made public.

Eddie Lynch, the Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland, described the figures as "extremely worrying".

"It highlights the need for better and more transparent information from government," he said.

"This is the most worrying time, as you can imagine, for the families of people living in care homes across Northern Ireland."

He said that a ban on family visits in homes has meant that there is an even greater need for information to be shared.

"It raises a question around transparency from government... around how this information is being communicated.

"The absence of information raises concerns and starts to dent the confidence of families in relation to the care being provided and the system they're putting their trust in."

Mr Lynch said he had not been told about the figures before they were reported.

Concerns have been raised about the coronavirus death toll in nursing homes
Concerns have been raised about the coronavirus death toll in nursing homes Concerns have been raised about the coronavirus death toll in nursing homes

Patrick Corrigan from 

Concerns have been raised about the coronavirus death toll in nursing homes
Concerns have been raised about the coronavirus death toll in nursing homes Concerns have been raised about the coronavirus death toll in nursing homes
Concerns have been raised about the coronavirus death toll in nursing homes
Concerns have been raised about the coronavirus death toll in nursing homes Concerns have been raised about the coronavirus death toll in nursing homes
Concerns have been raised about the coronavirus death toll in nursing homes
Concerns have been raised about the coronavirus death toll in nursing homes Concerns have been raised about the coronavirus death toll in nursing homes
Concerns have been raised about the coronavirus death toll in nursing homes
Concerns have been raised about the coronavirus death toll in nursing homes Concerns have been raised about the coronavirus death toll in nursing homes

Speaking at the health committee this morning, the DUP's Alex Easton asked witnesses from the Public Health Agency (PHA) if they "can assure me" that deaths related to Covid-19 and infection rates in care homes are "being reported accurately on a daily basis".

Olive MacLeod from the PHA told the committee that it is dealing with 110 separate coronavirus cases.  

She said "35 of those are suspected possible Covid and 75 are confirmed Covid".

"Sixteen care homes have had outbreaks concluded since the start of pandemic," she said.

Ms MacLeod said "126 acute respiratory outbreaks have been reported to the PHA".

Professor Hugo van Woerden from the PHA said it was aware of the care homes issue.

He said there was an understanding "early on" that there was "likely to be significantly higher fatality rate than other parts of society" in care homes.

He said bodies including the PHA and the north's health trusts had drawn up specific plans to tackle the issue.

"We recognise the problem, there is intensive work on the problem," he said.