Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2020
427. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if there will be an investigation into high levels of Covid-19 infection among healthcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10401/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra430. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a detailed report on Covid-19 infections amongst health workers; his views on the request by an organisation (details supplied) for an inquiry into these infection levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10422/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 427 and 430 together.
Gathering and reporting on demographic details of confirmed cases of COVID-19, such as healthcare worker status, is a complex and technical process involving multiple steps of data collection, processing and analysis. I have agreed with the HSE that such information would be made available on a weekly basis.
The HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has prepared a summary of confirmed cases in healthcare workers (HCWs). As of the 30th May at midnight, the HPSC has advised that 8,018 cases of COVID-19 are in HCWs. This is 32% of all confirmed cases. This does not mean that 32% of all HCWs have COVID-19, as has been mis-reported, but rather that 32% of all cases in Ireland have occurred in someone who has reported being a HCW.
The HPSC advises that the number of HCW cases has been declining week on week since mid-April. In the week 22 (24-30 May), there were 103 new COVID-19 confirmed cases in HCWs. This compares to 145 in week 21 and 470 in week 20.
My Department is advised that the transmission route for HCWs is sought through the contact tracing process. A broad approach is taken when determining if a HCW confirmed case acquired it in a healthcare setting. This broad approach may lead to an overestimation of healthcare setting transmission. The HPSC advises that if a HCW is noted as a confirmed case and has one of the following, their mode of transmission is recorded as "healthcare setting acquired":
Confirmed mode of transmission is healthcare setting acquired or
Close contact with another confirmed case of COVID-19 in a healthcare or workplace setting or
Linked to an outbreak in a healthcare setting.
The HPSC advises that 60% of cases in healthcare workers have "healthcare setting acquired" recorded as the likely source of transmission.
My Department and I are having a further meeting with the trade unions today.
