No fatality rate is available yet.
Over 1,500 residents of nursing homes and community hospitals have been infected with Covid-19 since the start of the year, new figures show.
The number of outbreaks in these locations, along with the size of outbreaks, has grown this month, according to an update from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.
There were 61 outbreaks in these residential settings between January 9th and 15th, similar to the 64 recorded the week before.
This is about 10 times the number recorded in December.
The number of cases associated with last week’s outbreaks was 759.
This is three times the peak recorded last autumn during the fourth wave of the pandemic, but only one-third of the peaks in the first and third waves.
CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland Tadhg Daly commented:"The news of restrictions lifting is great for all in society, but we need to move gingerly.
"Staff on the front line are exhausted and people need to be mindful of that.
"Vaccinations are crucial, since the booster was introduced it has been life changing for residents and staff.
"We need to keep ahead of any variants of concern and make sure we take all appropriate steps as the cases will continue to spike," he said.
Daly said anyone who is visiting a nursing home should engage with the home, there may be some local reasons for restricting visiting.
"People should continue to wash hands and wear masks, and use an antigen test before you visit," he added.
Tadhg Daly spoke with Clem Ryan on Monday morning's Kildare Today:
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