The Covid situation in Ireland has been moving in the wrong direction for a number of weeks now, as cases reach new heights and hospitals come under pressure.
New reports have suggested that NPHET, the group made up of health officials that were advising the government on past restrictions, will be replaced by a new advisory group.
It has been winding down over recent months as vaccination rates allowed for the easing of all Covid measures including a final dropping of the mask rule in March.
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However, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said on Wednesday night that a new group to advise the Government on Covid affairs is expected to be set up “imminently.”
This comes as health officials confirmed another 21,098 cases of the virus on Wednesday across PCR testing and online logging of antigen results.
On the same day, there were 1,395 patients in hospital receiving treatment for the most severe side effects of the virus - which marked an increase of 56 on the previous day.
Of this number, 55 patients were in intensive care units - which was a decrease of six from Tuesday.
There is still no definitive answer on whether or not new restrictions could be imposed in time, however, Leo Varadkar spoke at a conference on Wednesday and said: “It isn’t a surprise that we’re seeing an increase in infections.
“What is reassuring is that many or even a half of the people who are in hospital with Covid would be in hospital anyway.”
However, the Tanaiste did say “we don’t want to be turning on and off restrictions."
“We do need to live with this virus and the solution in my view is vaccination," he added.
“It’s heeding the advice to stay at home if you have symptoms, getting a test if you do.”
Meanwhile, the INMO continues to call for a return of mask rules as cases among health staff skyrocket.
There is mounting pressure on hospitals across the country with absent staff and hundreds of patients on trolleys waiting for beds - which was at 546 today.
In a statement on Tuesday, a spokesperson said: “A range of measures must be taken now in the short to medium term including the curtailment of all non-emergency, elective care and the reintroduction of mask-wearing in crowded and indoor settings.”
The union warned: “There is a clear link between reduced transmission and mask-wearing. Removing the mask requirement in congregated settings particularly with poor ventilation, such as public transport, could have a detrimental impact.”
At this point, it is understood that Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan does not see the need for the reintroduction of restrictions, but that health officials are monitoring the situation closely.
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