Out-of-work staff in areas such as childcare have responded to a call to upskill in infection prevention and control to help out in hospitals and other healthcare settings during the Covid-19 crisis. A rapidly-developed online course goes live tomorrow with two separate classes of 18 students each - but that's only the start. LOETB Director of Further Education and Training, Tony Dalton, said the course was devised after consultations with hospitals in the midlands about what practical support they could offer the healthcare system. Mr Dalton said that within days of announcing the programme last Tuesday, there were 100 applicants, from all over the country, 36 of whom are starting tomorrow. The LOETB expects to start more class groups later in the week and other ETBs are also getting involved in course delivery.

Source: Irish Independent March 29, 2020 19:30 UTC