Dr. Colm Henry:

On the issue of nursing homes, this is a novel virus and evolving information is coming through week by week. On 12 March, the ECDC described a case report of asymptomatic transmission. The question is what we have learned that we can apply in the context of future prevention. The most important lessons as we garner knowledge about this virus are the atypical presentations in older people and the importance of asymptomatic transmission. Even though that mass testing exercise has been reassuring in that it showed quite low levels of the virus among patients and staff, today's ECDC report had new guidance for residential care facilities, including a more aggressive testing strategy, bearing in mind that there is asymptomatic transmission and atypical presentation. I expect that will inform our own testing strategy in residential care settings from here on.

Wider measures include wider provision of the flu vaccine which, in line with other countries, we are now making available to younger age groups for this coming winter to reduce the reservoir of flu in the wider population, which would certainly challenge us on top of Covid-19 services. Ms O'Connor might address the timeline of providing PPE.