Ireland now has the highest rate of coronavirus infection in the world, with 10,100 confirmed cases per million people registered in the past seven days.
The Irish prime minister said the new mutant strain of the virus found in southeastern England “had a significant impact on transmission” in Ireland.
Irish hospitals are now “beyond tension” as a result of the increase in Covid-19 cases and subsequent hospitalizations, the head of Ireland’s health care provider said today.
The harsh warning came when Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was “not ashamed” of the way the government dealt with Covid-19 before Christmas, after criticism of parts of the economy that were opening up.
Ireland now has the highest rate of coronavirus infection in the world, with 10,100 confirmed cases per million people registered in the last seven days
The data, released by John Hopkins University in the United States today, showed that Ireland has the highest rate of Covid-19 infection in the world, with 10,100 confirmed cases per million people registered in the past seven days.
The Czech Republic remains the second worst country in the world in cases of coronavirus, with 8,900 infections per million people.
Ireland’s chief medical officer, Dr. Tony Holohan, said the new variant found in southeastern England was responsible for 45 percent of the 92 most recent positive coronavirus tests, according to Martin.
The figures show that the mutant strain of the virus is beginning to wreak havoc more and more in Ireland, as the strain was responsible for 25 percent of those tested in the week through January 2 and nine percent two weeks earlier.
The warning came when Prime Minister Micheál Martin said he “has no shame” in the way the government dealt with Covid-19 before Christmas, after criticism about the opening of parts of the economy
Speaking at Radio Newstalk, the prime minister refuted claims that his government sent mixed messages by opening parts of the economy, such as restaurants and gastro-pubs during the festive period.
‘It’s not that simple. We were in a very prolonged period of restrictions of one kind or another, and by December, we had six weeks of Level 5.
“The socialization that emerged in December along with the new variants, and as Professor Paul Moynagh pointed out, do not underestimate the seasonality of this virus.”
Mr Martin said it was clear to his government that in early December, public patience with blocking restrictions was low and “compliance was weakening”.
The prime minister contested claims that his blockade measures, according to which travelers entering Ireland during the festive season, did not have to produce a negative result for the coronavirus test, did not work.
Instead, Mr. Martin insisted that “the measures worked” because infection rates were low in early December, adding that it is “very difficult” to close the border.
But now the country is facing increasing cases of coronaviruses and hospitalizations, prompting health officials to warn the public to stay home.
The number of people tested positive for coronavirus in Ireland increased dramatically to 6,532 yesterday, a large increase from the 834 cases reported on Christmas Day
The country’s hospitals are now “beyond pressure” as a result of the increase in Covid-19 cases and subsequent hospitalizations, said the head of Ireland’s healthcare provider today
The number of people tested positive for coronavirus in Ireland increased sharply to 6,532 yesterday, a large increase from the 834 cases reported on Christmas Day.
The number of patients in hospitals with COVID-19 has increased 10 percent since Sunday to 1,582, almost double the peak established during the first wave of infections.
Intensive care admissions grew at a faster rate to 146, leaving only 38 intensive care units (ICUs) empty, as beds elsewhere are transformed into makeshift ICUs.
“I’ve always tried to balance COVID-19 messages,” said Paul Reid, head of Health Service Executive, on Twitter. ‘I know that everyone is finding it very difficult.
“But the situation in our hospitals is beyond tension. To avoid getting sick, protect your family and health professionals, please stay at home. ‘
Northern Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister Michelle O’Neill also warned that the country is facing the worst pandemic scenario.
She said the dire predictions made last March about the potential pressures that the region’s health service could face are now coming true.
Dr. David Robinson, director of hospital services for the South Eastern Health Trust, said the third wave of the pandemic is likely to be the worst and is coming “very soon”. Pictured: Craigavon Area Hospital, which was almost inundated with cases over the weekend
His severe assessment came after health chiefs warned that the number of Covid-19 patients being treated at the hospital could double in the third week of January.
Dr. David Robinson, director of hospital services for the South Eastern Health Trust, said the third wave of the pandemic is likely to be the worst and is coming “very soon”.
Hospitals across Northern Ireland are gearing up for the third outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic – which must be the worst.
As of Monday morning, there were 69 Covid-19 positive patients at the South Eastern Trust, mostly at Ulster hospital, near the peak of 73 during the second wave.
Ulster Hospital’s intensive care unit had 10 patients on Monday, half of whom were positive for Covid-19.
The hospital’s ICU capacity is currently 16. When that capacity is reached, patients will be transferred to the Nightingale facility at Belfast City Hospital.
Paramedics and ambulances at Mater Hospital in Dublin, Ireland on 6 January
The Trust’s director of nursing, Nicki Patterson, said she expects the coming weeks to be the most challenging of her 37-year career.
She urged the population to follow public health messages, so that people behave as if they have coronavirus and minimize contacts, exercising social distance, in addition to washing their hands frequently.
Mrs. Patterson also encouraged people to come to the emergency room when they need it, but only when they need it.
“The service is here for you, but for those who do not need an emergency service or hospital, we are calling on people to (a) make a measured judgment,” she said.
“In the coming weeks, unfortunately we will not be able to take care of everyone the way we normally would like to, but we will do our best.
She also assured those who cannot visit their loved ones at the hospital that the team will be there to help them.
“When these families cannot be, we will be, and particularly for people who may be nearing the end of their lives, we will be here, we will be with them and we will be holding their hands,” she said. .
Northern Ireland’s hospital chain came under intense pressure over the weekend, with two health funds being forced to appeal to out-of-service employees to attend work.
The situation was most extreme in the Southern Trust area, where Covid-19 infection rates are currently highest in Northern Ireland.
Over the weekend, Craigavon Area Hospital and Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry were at risk of being inundated with new cases
Over the weekend, Craigavon Area Hospital and Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry were at risk of being inundated with new cases.
The off-duty team that came to help treat the flow of patients helped to avoid declaring a major incident.
The South West Acute hospital in Enniskillen, in the Western Trust area, also asked the out-of-service team to report to work if there was a need to start receiving inpatients from the Southern Trust.
Ultimately, the patient’s deviations to Enniskillen were not necessary.
“I think that developments over the weekend, although they were predicted, are still very rigid and alarming,” said O’Neill.
‘We are at the extreme of the pandemic now, this is the worst situation we have been in since the beginning.
‘I think we are now witnessing this scenario that was predicted to be the worst scenario in early March last year, but is now a real lived experience.’
A man carries shopping bags on a quiet street in Belfast city center on 8 January
Ms. O’Neill told BBC Radio Ulster that she could not rule out a potential extension of the region’s current blockade, which is expected to end in the first week of February. She said that all options remained on the table.
“All forecasts indicate that we are likely to peak in this wave of new cases,” she said.
‘But we certainly haven’t yet reached the peak in terms of pressure on healthcare. And the coming weeks will be a huge effort for all those who work in the health service on the front lines. ‘
Prime Minister Arlene Foster said the situation was “very worrying”.
“If you look at the number of positive cases while they are still very high, they have dropped from the peak of 2,000 cases, and yesterday I think we had 1,112 positive cases,” she told Radio Ulster.
‘So, although the cases are still high, the assessment is that we have exceeded the peak of cases, but it is clear that there is a delay in terms of hospital admissions and this is very worrying to see that we are now in 703 patients admitted to Covid in our hospitals. ‘
Another 16 deaths linked to Covid-19 and 759 new cases of the virus were confirmed in Northern Ireland on Monday.