The Health Minister says the current model of care for older people in this country isn't fit for purpose.
It comes after one Dublin nursing home reported 11 coronavirus related deaths in the last two weeks.
The HSE has confirmed that ten of those who passed away at St Mary’s Hospital in the Phoenix Park had tested positive for the virus.
While another resident was a suspected case, but hadn't received their test results.
The HSE will announce new measures this afternoon to stop the spread of Covid 19 in nursing homes while the Health Minister is to meet Nursing Homes Ireland.
Simon Harris says how the country cares for older people needs to change.
"I think at the end of this pandemic there's going to be the need for a real policy discussion about how we care for older people.
"I quite frankly think the current model is not fit for purpose, it needs to change, and we need to make sure the private nursing home sector is much more plugged in to the public health service.
"But that's not for today, what today is about is no matter where you are in this country we want to protect you from this virus."
