Covid cases hit 2,466
Tánaiste: We can’t rule out future restrictions
THE number of Covid cases across the country soared to 2,466 yesterday, the highest figure in nine months.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar warned that ‘Covid is going to be with us forever’, as he admitted local or national restrictions cannot be fully ruled out.
The number of Covid patients in intensive care hit 90 yesterday, the highest figure since March 10. The HSE warned that no ICU beds were free and only 12 hospital beds were available for children.
As nightclubs reopened last night, Mr Varadkar’s dismissed the notion that this marked Ireland’s ‘Freedom Day’. The Fine Gael leader insisted the Government has never used that term as it would ‘send the wrong message’.
Mr Varadkar acknowledged that yesterday was ‘the first day of the new normal’, but warned that nationwide restrictions are ‘always a possibility’. He said: ‘I think it’s increasingly clear Covid is going to be with us forever. It’s going to become an endemic virus, perhaps a virus that is seasonal in nature.
‘What we want to do is get through this winter, and every winter, without having to reimpose restrictions. That’s why we’re asking people to work with us.’
He added there was no guarantee that ‘things couldn’t go wrong’ despite more than 90% of the country being vaccinated.
Mr Varadkar said he was concerned about the pandemic and ‘a difficult winter’ for the health service, but added: ‘I don’t think people should be worried about Christmas at this stage.’
Details of the deteriorating situation followed news that 1,823 health workers were off sick with ‘Covid-related issues’.
Staff members had either tested positive and were symptomatic for Covid-19 or were close contacts, the HSE told the Irish Daily Mail last night.
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, warned that the bank holiday weekend would bring increased levels of socialising and reiterated the importance of social distancing, masks and hand washing.
‘With the current trajectory of the disease in Ireland it is important that every individual knows and acts on the basic measures to limit the spread of Covid-19,’ he said. In total, there were 457 patients in hospital with Covid19 yesterday. Health staff absences are also contributing to the worsening situation.
The HSE said it could not provide a breakdown of the more than 1,800 hospital staff off work, while the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) confirmed 371 of its members were infected with Covid-19 last month.
Earlier this week, INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: ‘In the last month, the number of Covid infections has increased amongst healthcare workers, with nurses and midwives representing the highest cohort of those infected.’ The INMO demanded the Government provide booster vaccinations for healthcare staff.
However, Covid-19 rates among nurses are far lower than they were in January of this year when the vaccination programme was in its early phase.
An INMO spokesperson told the Mail last night: ‘Nurses and midwives have faced an unprecedented increase in workload demands resulting directly or indirectly from the pandemic.
‘Coupled with caring for patients with the virus, witnessing the physical and emotional effects on patients, families and loved ones has taken a psychological toll.’
The union spokesperson added: ‘The vast majority of our members are now telling us they’re mentally and emotionally exhausted, and this is going to have an impact on their safety and the safety of their patients.’
1,823 health workers on Covid-related sick leave