An extremely worrying increase since Christmas Eve.
The number of patients in ICUs across Ireland with Covid-19 have quadrupled in two weeks.
There were 22 confirmed cases of the virus in Intensive Care Units here on Christmas Eve, while as of 11am this morning, there are 88.
Speaking about these figures on Wednesday, HSE CCO Colm Henry said that “it’s not today’s numbers, but the trend” that is worrying him and his colleague.
He also said that if people don’t comply with safety guidelines, ICU figures could go “much higher” than ICU surge capacity.
There are 921 people in hospital receiving treatment for Covid-19, exceeding the previous peak of 881 recorded on 15 April in 2020.
The number of hospitalisations has jumped significantly from 2pm on Tuesday (5 January), when there were 840 patients hospitalised, 76 of whom were in ICU.
HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid also discussed his concern with the growing figures, saying: “Healthy people are getting very sick. Everyone gets how serious this is now.
“Let’s all do what’s needed, turn this around, save lives, whilst the vaccine arrives. We have to.”
The government is expected to announce further restrictions on Wednesday, which will include the closure of school buildings and construction sites until the end of January and a requirement for all travellers into Ireland to provide a negative Covid-19 test.
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