18,000 staff and residents in long term residential care have been tested for Covid 19 since last Saturday.
That’s according to the CEO of the HSE and comes as the latest figures show there are now 16,671 cases of coronavirus nationwide
There’s been a jump of 61% in cases in nursing homes since Monday.
CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland, Tadhg Daly, says that's down to the extra testing.
"The nursing home sector is now and has been for a number of weeks at the frontline.
"I think we also need to remember that on Friday last committed to a programme of testing of all residents and staff.
"So this rise I would suggest is attributed to the fact the testing regime has increased significantly."
