Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021
472. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of residents in direct provision centres who contracted Covid-19 in 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5175/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for the recording of the number of people who test positive for COVID-19 lies with the Department of Health. My Department cannot confirm positive test results of any person as we do not hold such personal medical information. Decisions on who should be tested and the release of data relating to same are matters for the HSE in a public health context. My Department's priority is the protection of residents, staff and the wider community and it is working very closely with the HSE to manage the challenges of this public health crisis.
Information regarding outbreaks of COVID-19 are published weekly by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC). Details of outbreaks in International Protection Accommodation Centres can be found in table 5 at the following link:
https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/surveillance/covid-19outbreaksclustersinireland/COVID-19%20Weekly%20Outbreak%20Report_Week532020_v1.0_04012021_WebVersion.pdf
