Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Cormac O'Shea

Dr Tony Holohan issues Covid warning and answers if 'additional restrictions' will be needed again in Ireland

Dr Tony Holohan has warned that Covid-19 is once again on the rise on Ireland and could put a significant strain on our hospital systems.

The Chief Medical Officer did however say that there was no discussion needed at this moment about additional advice or restrictions.

In a letter to Minister Stephen Donnelly, the CMO said: "I have no advice nor have there been any questions raised in the Department of Health at this point around additional restrictions."

READ MORE: Serious concern about new wave of Covid as Germany reintroduces face masks indoors

Summarising the situation in the letter sent on June 10, Dr Holohan said: '“If the recent rising trend in hospitalised cases continues, we are likely to see increased pressure on the hospital system over the coming weeks.”

“This will further reduce hospital capacity to admit patients for scheduled and unscheduled care."

There are currently 508 in hospital with the virus, 28 of whom are receiving intensive care.

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health , Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health and , Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group pictured this evening (Wednesday 28th July 2021) at a Covid -19 update press conference at the Department of Health. (Collins Dublin)

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control predicted last month that there could be a new Covid wave driven by the increase of the BA.5 and BA.4 variants.

The HSE's Chief Clinical Officer Dr Colm Henry said this week that he was concerned about the rising number of people being hospitalised with the virus.

He warned that people could be reinfected with Covid as two sub-variants of Omicron, BA.4 and BA.5 variants, are "becoming more widespread because of their ability to escape immunity".

Dr Henry warned: "We are concerned certainly at the increasing hospitalisations. What we are seeing is people reinfected after getting previous variants.

"It is all the more reason to encourage people over 65 and the immunocompromised to get their second booster."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.