Attempts to address Covid-19 fallout among homeless

DRHE: "We are acutely aware that those in emergency accommodation are worried"

The Dublin Region Homeless Executive has said it is monitoring its services on a daily basis after figures emerged indicating a number of people in emergency accommodation have tested positive for Covid-19.

Dublin City Cllr Anthony Flynn, also a founder of Inner City Helping Homeless tweeted that at least six clients of homeless services have tested positive for the coronavirus, with 43 others awaiting testing and a larger number of homeless service staff in isolation.

Earlier this week SafetyNet Primary Care said it had tested as many as 80 homeless service users and were awaiting results.

The DRHE said it is "acutely aware that those in emergency accommodation are worried" and that it is continuing to work with the HSE to ensure that the arrangements in place for those experiencing homelessness are adequate and consistent with medical and health and safety advice.

A spokesperson said: "The DRHE has secured additional emergency accommodation to ensure there is sufficient capacity to allow for isolation of suspected or confirmed cases of Covid-19.

"In this regard in the last two weeks, we have sourced 160 self-contained apartments, 165 ensuite bedrooms in hotels and 300 adult single occupancy accommodation.

"We have identified a number of older and high-risk individuals currently residing in emergency accommodation and are currently in the process of moving these people to a separate cocooning facility where rapid rehousing is not possible."

Meanwhile, Gardai said reports "in some national media" that as many as 27 members of the force have tested positive for Covid-19 "are incorrect and significantly overstated".

"The Health Service Executive is the lead agency for any health related questions on COVID-19.

"There is currently no impact on any services of An Garda Síochána as a result of COVID-19," a spokesperson said, adding the force will not comment on the individual status of members or individual garda stations/ sections, but would give further information on service capability "if necessary".

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