Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the matter and I will absolutely look into it once I am finished in the Chamber today. I am reassured to hear Deputy Naughten say the Minister for Health is already on the case, which is important.

Much has been done and more is being done than was the case in spring in the protection of nursing homes. This includes serial testing, personal protective equipment, additional funding and staff but the sad reality that we must all face is that if the virus is circulating at high levels in the community, it will get into nursing homes, hospitals, schools, factories and other places. We all have our part to play in ensuring that does not happen. It includes everybody, including all of us here, doing the right thing, adhering to social distancing, ensuring we wash our hands and following all the hygiene rules. It is really important that if we develop symptoms, we self-isolate and do not go to work or anywhere else. In such a case we should ring the doctor to seek a test and not come out of self-isolation until we get a negative test result and have been asymptomatic for two days. These actions will protect everyone the most.

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