Hospital patients pass 300 for first time since March
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THE number of Covid patients has exceeded 300 for the first time since last March, the HSE said yesterday.
On Saturday there were 259 on the wards with the condition but HSE chief Paul Reid yesterday said the number had now hit 314.
In a tweet Mr Reid said: “Vaccinations continue this weekend. Almost 6.6million now administered. 91% of adults partially vaccinated & 85% fully. 135,000 12-15s registered & 77,000 now administered.
“But the threat is still very real as 314 Covid-19 patients are now hospitalised & 54 in ICU. Take good care.”
When asked about the growing number of cases, Taoiseach Micheal Martin warned the peak of the pandemic is still ahead.
He said: “We are concerned about the Delta variant and the increase in numbers.
“At a meeting last week, the CMO [Chief Medical Officer] articulated that concern along with the NPHET representatives and Mr Reid in terms of the impact on hospitalisations and ICUS.
“Vaccination is the key. We are continuing to vaccinate. The younger age cohorts are still not enjoying the full protection of that vaccination programme, having received first doses later than the older age cohorts.
“We did anticipate this increase, we anticipate an increase over the next number of weeks. We have not reached the peak of the Delta wave yet.
“So, I would appeal to people to watch the fundamentals in terms of social distancing, wearing masks – indoors in particular
– and adhering to basic guidelines.”
PHASE
We did anticipate an increase over next number of weeks
MICHEAL MARTIN YESTERDAY
“We are preparing next week a series of meetings for how we manage the next phase of Covid.”
Mr Martin’s remarks echoed those of Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan, who said the rise in infection rate is causing “significant concern”.
In a separate development, a global research project has found critically-ill Covid-19 patients are less likely to die or to require invasive ventilation if lying on their stomachs while receiving oxygen.
The technique – awake prone positioning – was assessed in hospitals in six countries and involved more than 1,000 patients.
The findings of the study, sponsored by NUI Galway, have been published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
Dr Bairbre Mcnicholas, honorary senior lecturer at NUI Galway and intensive care consultant at University Hospital Galway, said: “This study shows that clinical trials can be scaled up and done properly and efficiently during a pandemic and demonstrates what we can achieve when we work together.”
The study involved 1,121 patients in the US, Canada, Mexico, France, Spain and Ireland, and it is the first time awake prone positioning has been studied to such an extent.
Mcnicholas added: “I tell patients that going on your tummy will improve the oxygen levels in your blood.
“Although it is uncomfortable, the longer you can put up with this position, the less likely you will need to go on to require a breathing tube.”
Lisa Power was treated using awake prone positioning while a Covid patient at University Hospital Galway.
She said: “It really helped my breathing and made me much more comfortable without having to put me on a ventilator.”