Boxes of protective face masks earmarked for staff and patients were stolen from St Luke’s Hospital in Dublin at the end of last month when supplies across the country were starting to disappear as fears over the spread of the coronavirus mounted. A hospital spokeswoman condemned the theft which, she said, had impacted on some of the “most vulnerable” patients in the Irish health system. The hospital in Rathgar treats cancer patients. While the hospital did not say exactly how many masks were stolen it is understood that multiple boxes went missing at the end of February. The spokeswoman for the hospital said it was in the process of restocking supplies and had implemented “additional security measures for the secured storage of the equipment”.

Source: The Irish Times March 09, 2020 19:55 UTC