360 patients are currently hospitalised with the virus.
1,789 new cases of Covid-19 have been reported in the Republic of Ireland in the latest update issued by the Department of Health on Wednesday evening.
As of 8am on Wednesday morning, 360 patients affected by the virus are currently hospitalised, of which 56 are being treated in intensive care units.
A total of 5,112 deaths related to Covid-19 have been notified in the Republic.
The latest figures arrive just under 24 hours following Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s public address in which he announced a timeline for the easing of restrictions. As of now, the plan is to lift all Covid-related restrictions by 22 October.
Speaking on RTÉ Morning Ireland on Wednesday, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly praised the re-opening plan while sounding a note of caution.
“It’s a good plan but it’s not without risk,” said Donnelly. “On the positive side, we have a fantastic vaccination programme. We’ve the second highest uptake of vaccines anywhere in Europe.
“Our testing and tracing system is excellent and there’s been a lot of additional capacity added to the hospital sector. On the risk side, the risks are real. We’ve the highest Covid rate right now anywhere in the EU.
“What I’m more concerned about than that is in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, we’re looking at very very serious spikes. So we have to be careful. We have to avoid happening in the Republic what we’re seeing happen in Scotland right now.”
Featured image via Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie
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