INMO asks people to stay away from Virus

As Ireland is going through another lockdown, the INMO has came forward and asks people to stay away from the virus.

Recently a record 6,110 new cases was announced with 582.8 cases per 100,000 people.

At the same time, the number of COVID-19 patients in Irish hospitals has now risen to 776 with 70 people in intensive care.

Phil Ni Sheaghdha, General Secretary the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), said around 4,000 healthcare workers are currently out sick with COVID-19.

She said new infections are running at about 50 a week which puts “enormous pressure on rosters and on the ability to keep beds open.”

“I think the important point we have to make on behalf of healthcare workers is, we would appeal to the public to take extra caution – don’t wait for Government announcements.” she added.

“There is huge pressure on hospitals right now. The public always support frontline healthcare workers and have done so since the beginning. Now is the time to really show that by taking every precaution possible so you don’t get infected, you are not a close contact and our hospitals can actually cope.” she said.

She warned that healthcare staff are currently trying to “provide COVID care, non-COVID care and at the same time, administer the vaccines.”

She said that right now, that is a lot of pressure and our hospital occupancy level has been very, very high since March and these are very difficult circumstances for all of the healthcare workers and they are tired.

Meanwhile, Dr Conor Deasy, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Cork University Hospital, said the situation facing the hospital is the “most serious it has been since the start of the pandemic.”

“This is a real step up and this is a real call out to the community to really take this seriously, stay at home and limit your contacts,” he said.

“There are COVID presentations at the emergency Department but there are also non-COVID presentations.

“There is never a good time to crash your car or break your hip or fall down the stair but now is a particularly bad time so what we are saying is, limit your risk. Stay at home and separate yourself a far as you can from others to reduce the chances of picking this up.” he said.