A Dublin care home for older people has had 11 COVID-19 related deaths within the last two weeks, the HSE has confirmed.
Ten of those who passed away at St Mary’s Hospital in the Phoenix Park since April 2nd had tested positive for the virus.
Another resident who died is suspected to have contracted the virus, but the test result has not yet been returned.
In a statement, the HSE said their priority is the safety and wellbeing of all residents and staff.
They said they remain in contact with relatives and next-of-kin of all residents at St Mary's, which has 198 residential spaces.
The executive said: "We offer our deepest sympathies to family and friends [of those who died] and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.
"St Mary’s Hospital is led by full time consultant geriatricians and there is 24/7 medical and nursing management on site, with a nurse specialist in infection prevention and control also working on site.
"Every effort continues to be implemented to maintain the professional standard of nursing and health care assistant staffing in St Mary’s Hospital during this time."
Concerns remain about the impact of COVID-19 in some nursing and residential homes - with Dr Tony Holohan saying those settings are having a "different experience" of the virus than the general population.
Figures show more than half of all coronavirus-related deaths have happened in nursing homes, and there have been more than 150 clusters in nursing homes alone.
It was confirmed this week that nine residents of a Co Laois residential home died over the bank holiday weekend - including eight who had tested positive for coronavirus.
Nursing Homes Ireland is to meet with the Health Minister this afternoon, amid criticism from the group that nursing homes weren't prioritised during the early stages of the outbreak.
The HSE's Colm Henry told Newstalk Breakfast that the situation in nursing homes is challenging.
He said: "[The virus] sometimes presents in atypical ways.
"Whereas in younger people there can be a fever or a cough, with older people - who are frail, may be bed-bound, who may have dementia or other illnesses... it is much more subtle... there may not be a temperature."
Officials have said the current criteria for COVID-19 testing will soon be widened, with testing expected to be increased for staff and residents in residential homes where there haven't been COVID-19 cases.
