Updated 1 hour ago
Public health officials have confirmed 3,428 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.
As of 8 a.m. today, there are 478 patients with Covid-19 in hospital, of whom 75 are receiving intensive care.
Yesterday, there were 3,903 new cases of Covid-19, 444 people infected with the virus were in hospital and 74 were in intensive care units.
National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) He said on Wednesday Last week, 56 deaths were reported, bringing the total number of deaths in Ireland to 5,492.
Meanwhile, Dr Ina Kelly, chair of the Irish Medical Organisation, expressed grave concern about the continuing high rate of Covid-19 infection across the country.
Kelly, a public health specialist, warned that the continued high infection rate was threatening the progress the country has made against the virus over the past year.
“The next two weeks will be critical not only to the outlook for Covid but for the broader health service. All our GP surgeries, hospitals and intensive care units are under extraordinary pressure.
«We’re hit by a perfect storm of high Covid numbers, the annual winter flu season and shockingly high numbers on waiting lists,» she said.
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Kelly said the IMO was particularly concerned about the adverse impact of increased hospitalizations due to Covid.
“Covid 19 cases in hospitals mean fewer beds to treat non-Covid cases. Our waiting lists are already in terrible shape. We cannot afford to lose hospital staff and hospital beds due to the Covid-19 virus.”
The doctor also urged bars, restaurants and hospitality venues to be more vigilant about checking the vaccination status of patrons: “Those sectors of the hospitality industry that have been telling us that police protocols can be trusted, need to raise the bar and prove they are as good as their word.”