Health Minister Simon Harris has opened a dedicated Covid-19 hub for the homeless, drug users and other marginalised people.
The mobile treatment programme will service vulnerable groups in inner city Dublin.
The hub will be based in the Mater Hospital but includes a mobile outreach service.
Minister Harris praised the health and charity workers on the frontline of the service.
“We owe a huge debt to these frontline workers who are putting their lives at risk in order to save others,” he said.
“This community assessment hub is a key part of the infrastructure providing a rapid response service to test for Covid-19 among people who are homeless, those living in extreme poverty, undocumented migrants and other vulnerable groups in the inner city.
“The number of cases of Covid-19 among people who are homeless is less than expected and this is a testament to the effectiveness of this targeted approach.”
Mater consultant in infectious diseases Dr Tara McGinty said: “Those who are homeless, or from other vulnerable groups such as migrants, or those with substance abuse problems face even greater challenges to halt the spread of the virus and to recover from it, if they contract it.”
It is aimed at marginalised groups in the inner city that may not have, or rarely seek access to GPs and healthcare.
The Covid-19 Community Assessment Hub is a joint venture between the Mater, the HSE and Safetynet, a medical charity that works with the homeless, drug users and migrants.
The Hub will include an assessment unit at the Mater and a mobile assessment unit working across the inner city.
It hopes to help marginalised groups often living in overcrowded settings where physical distancing, self-isolation and cocooning are difficult.
