COVID-19 Surge Puts Pressure on Irish Nursing Homes and Hospitals

Dublin: Ireland’s nursing homes and hospitals are once again under pressure as COVID-19 cases rise, with nearly 1,500 people hospitalised in October, according to a new report from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC). Most of the infections were linked to outbreaks in nursing homes and healthcare facilities.

The report highlights that people aged 65 and above remain the most affected, followed by the 45–64 age group. Cases have also been reported among those aged 15–24, though ICU admissions remain low, and deaths are in single digits.

Dublin recorded the highest number of infections, followed by Cork, Louth, Kildare, Kerry, Limerick, Galway, and Tipperary, while Laois reported the fewest.

Sharp Drop in Cases Since Summer

Despite the recent surge, infection rates have declined significantly compared to the summer months. Weekly cases have fallen from around 600 to 221. Of the latest confirmed cases, 98 patients required hospital care, but none were admitted to intensive care, and no new deaths were reported. Earlier in October, 10 deaths occurred in week 40, followed by three each in weeks 41 and 42.

The Integrated Respiratory Virus Bulletin shows that COVID-19 remains a low to moderate burden, with an incidence rate of 4.3 cases per 100,000 people. There was also a 37% decrease in infections between weeks 42 and 43, and hospitalisations have continued to fall.

Variant Trends and Outbreaks

Between weeks 36 and 40, over 83% of sequenced cases were linked to the XFG variant, which continues to dominate. Another 14% were identified as NB.1.8.1.

There were 15 outbreaks reported last week, bringing the total to 91 since October 1. Nursing homes remain the hardest hit, though infections there have dropped sharply—from 300 cases a week in April to around 50 per week currently. Hospitals, meanwhile, continue to report a steady 25 to 50 cases per week.

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