Ireland has likely not seen the worst impacts of the third wave of Covid-19 yet, HSE officials have warned.
Alarming new projections estimate that the number of Covid-19 patients in Irish hospitals could soar to 3,000 by the end of the month. Positive case numbers reached their highest ever daily total yesterday, with 3,394 confirmed cases nationwide.
Dr Colm Henry, Health Service Executive chief clinical officer, told the Sunday Independent that the surge in new cases will convert to hospitalisations and intensive care admissions.
The crisis is already happening, Dr Henry said, and could worsen to at least 2,000 to 3,000 people in hospital by the end of the month.
The latest hospital data from 8pm Saturday night recorded 530 Covid-19 patients, and 50 in ICU.
Letterkenny University Hospital had the third highest Covid-19 patient numbers, with 42 patients with the virus onsite and three critical cases.
HSE CEO Paul Reid said: “We have likely not seen the worst impacts yet. But everything we do today to stop this virus spreading makes a huge difference. Please let’s all play our part to protect our health service.”
