Officials are beginning a census of all deaths in long-term residential care facilities this weekend.
There have been 335 outbreaks of the virus in residential care settings around the country, including 196 in nursing homes.
Meanwhile, more than half the deaths from the virus in the country have been recorded in nursing homes.
The census will provide a clearer picture of the scale of the crisis and will bolster national efforts to stop the spread of the virus among older people.
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Meanwhile, the national health watchdog will begin special inspections of nursing homes later this month.
The HSE is to test all staff and residents in the facilities 'as a priority.'
Health Minister Simon Harris said the watchdog will publish a checklist for residential care facilities next week.
He said it will then begin inspections to ensure it is being followed.
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Some 100,000 tests for Covid-19 are due to be carried out every week for the next six months.
It comes after report long waiting lists had seen people waiting up to four weeks for results.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said a rapid turnaround system will be put in place in the coming days.
He said it is essential the new system is in place before work and travel restrictions are lifted.
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Almost one thousand nurses have re-joined the medical register since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Meanwhile, almost half of the country’s eligible student nurses have applied to join the frontline.
The sign-ups are part of the ‘On Call for Ireland’ initiative - which more than 70,000 people applied for as part of the Government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Health Minister Simon Harris has said "we will be forever indebted" to those who have signed up, saying “we need every hand on deck.”
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The US President Donald Trump has appeared to support protests calling for the country's economy to reopen.
A number of demonstrations have been held in the past couple of days in Minnesota and Michigan, as well as other states for people to be allowed go back to work.
The US Constitution said that it is up to Governors within each state to decide their exit strategies from restrictions put in place due to Covid-19.
On Twitter, Donald Trump has said "Liberate Michigan!" "Liberate Minnesota!", and "Liberate Virginia."
