COVID-19 LATEST: 18 more die, 386 new cases, worrying rise in outbreaks in nursing homes

Eighteen more people have died after contracting the coronavirus as 386 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed by the Department of Health this evening.

It brings the overall death toll as a result of the virus to 1,102. There are now 19,648 confirmed cases of Covid-19 across the country.

Meanwhile, official figures show an increase in outbreaks of Covid-19 in nursing homes, with long-term residential care facilities also facing a significant risk regarding their operations, mainly in terms of staffing demands.

Of the 425 residential care facilities in the country, 75 have a status red designation.

Latest official figures show an increase in outbreaks of Covid-19 in nursing homes with 208 such clusters reported.

A further 114 outbreaks have been seen in other residential facilities.