There are 41 open clusters of covid-19 in nursing homes across the country.
27 of these are located in the east of the country with 10 spread across facilities in the mid-west.
The Oireachtas Covid-19 committee today heard 56 per cent of those who died from covid-19 up to mid July were nursing home residents. That's 985 lives, according to the HPSC Data.
The Expert Panel on Nursing Homes has recommended a systematic reform of the sector to ensure residents are protected from the virus.
The committee also heard that there is a programme of ongoing staff testing in all nursing homes. Positivity rates in the checks during June and August were as low as 0.1 to 0.2 per cent.
The Expert Panel's made a series of recommendations in its report covering areas such as staffing, their skills mix and visiting protocols.
Professor Cecily Kelleher has told the chair of the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee, Deputy Michael McNamara, that it is vital these are carried out:
