The battle against Covid-19 has cost the HSE €6.3m in the north west so far, according to new figures.
The response to the outbreak in the region and reconfiguration of services cost €3.5million. €1.1million was spent on equipment and appliances and a further €1.1 has been spent on Primary Care assessment hubs / testing to date.
The €6.3m total of costs do not include PPE, testing kits or set-up costs for Community Assessment Hubs, as they are counted as national expenditure.
The HSE CHO1 area includes Donegal, Sligo/Leitrim/West Cavan, Cavan/Monaghan.
Sixty eight new doctors and nurses were employed at Letterkenny University Hospital since the beginning of Covid-19. The new posts include 31 doctors, including 20 new intern doctors and one permanent Consultant Gastroenterologist.
An additional 37 nurses were employed at the hospital since March. Twenty-three of these nurses have been offered a permanent contract and 14 are on a temporary contract.
The data was shared with members of the HSE Regional Forum West on Tuesday, when the HSE also outlined how it is preparing for a second potential wave of Covid-19. Without a proven vaccine or treatment for the virus, the HSE said it is looking to reinforce infrastructure in the area.
Steps being taken in the CHO1 area include following the Expert Advisory Groups advice and improving support in Public Health.
John Hayes, Chief Officer of the CHO 1 are, said the HSE is looking to improve support by enhancing the communicable disease surveillance, bolstering case management and data entry teams, utilising the new Covid tracker app, and incorporating evolving evidence into all messaging about second wave to the public.
