NURSING HOMES IN the east of the country have seen large clusters of coronavirus cases, according to data released today.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC) report found that out of 63 clusters, which are outbreaks of positive cases that are likely to be connected, nine had occurred in nursing homes.

The report published today analyses data as of 1pm on 25 March, when the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 was at 1,164. There are now 1,564 confirmed cases here.

Clusters of cases were also recorded in eight hospitals around the country, 16 clusters were travel related while 14 clusters occurred in private homes.

Of the 283 cases who were healthcare workers, 64% had no history of foreign travel in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms.

Age profile

The age bracket which has seen the most cases is the 45-54 one, making up 19.7% cases (229), closely followed by the 25-34 age bracket (19.6%). The 35-44 group accounts for 214 cases.

For those aged over 65, they make up 17.8% of cases with 207.

Three children under the age of one have contracted the virus while two children between the aged one to four have tested positive.

There have been 20 cases among 5 to 14 year olds and 228 cases in the 15 to 24 age bracket.

Source: HSPC

A breakdown of cases also shows that so far 305 people have been hospitalised, and 39 admitted to ICU.

Figures show that two children under the age of five and two children between the ages of five and 14 have been hospitalised. One child in the 5-14 age bracket was admitted to ICU.

There were 65 people aged between 25-44 admitted to hospital as of midnight on 23 March. Five people in the same age bracket were admitted to ICU.

Those in the 65+ age bracket made up the majority of hospitalisations, 114, and the majority of ICU admittance – 13.

Source: HPSC

Country of infection

The HPSC report also details the country in which each person is believed to have contracted the virus.

Most of the 1,164 cases are understood to have been contracted in Ireland – 733.

220 cases are of unknown origin, while 61 cases are associated with Italy, followed by 46 cases with the UK.

Source: HPSC

Cumulative incidence rates per 100,000 population of confirmed cases Source: HPSC

Dublin remains the county with the largest volume of cases, reporting 539. Followed by Cork with 133, Wicklow with 39, Kildare with 34, and Kerry with 33.

Last night, the Department of Health confirmed that two more people had died from the virus, bringing the death toll in Ireland to nine.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan confirmed that a further 235 cases had been identified in the Republic of Ireland but said that the number of contacts of confirmed cases is dropping, suggesting positive compliance with social distancing guidelines.

Holohan said that health officials are working towards a target of being able to carry out 15,000 tests per day by the middle of April. The HSE said that 14,692 samples have been tested and 93% returned negative

When asked about the number of patients who have fully recovered from the condition, Holohan said this information is not currently available but should be “very shortly”.