Ireland is on the higher end of the scale when it comes to coronavirus deaths in nursing homes, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Figures show nursing homes account for 62% of deaths, while the international average is just 25%.
However, not all countries compiled the figures the same way, and the WHO says the Government here reacted quickly to the problem in nursing homes.
Dr David Nabarro, the WHO special envoy on COVID-19, has addressed the the Special Committee on COVID-19 Response.
"The figure for fatality in residential care for older people is coming up at around 25%.
"But if we then break it down country by country - Switzerland 53%, Sweden 49%, Scotland 46% - so Ireland is certainly at the upper end of the spectrum.
"So yes this is quite high, but not unexpected".
Dr Nabarro says one of the reasons for the figures is Ireland was recording more detail about nursing home deaths than other countries.
"Ireland has probably got the widest circle of inclusion of all the countries I've studied - which may be one of the reasons why there's a relatively high rate of deaths in nursing homes associated with COVID in Ireland compacted with some other countries.
"Secondly, as far as I can tell from the analysis I've done, Ireland moved pretty quickly on a number of issues".
Reporting by Sean Defoe
