Government and NPHET expressed concern over the recent rise in number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations; restrictions may be tightened in the coming days

DUBLIN: Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said the government and the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) were deeply concerned about the recent rise in the number of COVID-19 cases and those being treated in hospitals. Minister Donnelly announced that an emergency cabinet meeting would be held today at 2.30 pm in this regard.

According to figures released yesterday on the government’s Covid data hub website, 409 people infected with the virus were being treated in hospitals in the Republic of Ireland. “So just a week ago there were 234 COVID patients in hospitals. As of today, there are 409 so that’s a 75% increase in just one week,” Health Minister said.

Minister Donnelly also said the Cabinet would review the existing measures and in the light of the increase in cases and hospitalisations, it would consider whether to tighten public health restrictions in the coming days.

“We’re beginning to see reports in the media about NHS hospitals beginning to become overwhelmed by COVID and COVID patients. Obviously that’s not something we want to see here,” Donnelly said.

Chief medical officer, Dr. Tony Holohan said that the third wave of pandemic had now hospitalized more people than the second wave of infections in Ireland. “Hospitalisations have increased sharply in the last two days. This is a concerning trend which reflects the sharp increase incidence we saw in the last 10 days,” Dr. Holohan said.