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Some Dublin hospitals are coming under “significant pressure” from rising coronavirus cases, HSE chief Paul Reid said.
Ireland’s hospitals are not overwhelmed, but “we are seeing the impact of the increase in cases,” Mr Reid told Morning Ireland on RTÉ radio.
The government is expected to approve a proposal to move Dublin to Level 3 of Covid restrictions starting at midnight Friday.
On Thursday night, health officials reported that one more person had died from Covid-19 and 240 more cases had been reported.
Dr Glynn said that half of the cases (119) were in Dublin, while there was also an increasing age profile among those contracting the virus.
The latest figures mean the death toll in the state has risen to 1,789. Confirmed cases have now passed the 32,000 mark, climbing to 32,023.
Meanwhile, an emergency medicine consultant cautioned that the HSE must urgently address the problem of a shortage of intensive care beds rather than trying to reassure people that there is no problem.
Dr Fergal Hickey said that even before Covid, the health care system was “critically short” of intensive care beds “at best.” For someone to claim that there were enough intensive care beds was wrong, he said.
Speaking on RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland, Dr. Hickey said the evidence contradicted any claims about the sufficient capacity of intensive care beds. While some areas of hospitals could become additional critical care capacity, the reality was that there were shortages, he said.
“As the number continues to increase, people will need hospitalization and intensive care. We are seeing an increase in older people, who are more vulnerable, who become infected and will require critical care, as well as some young people, ”he said.
Dublin restrictions
Under additional restrictions for Dublin, restaurants, eateries and pubs serving food will only be allowed to open if they have outdoor facilities or take out facilities.
The authorities have already decided that the pubs that do not serve food, the so-called ‘wet pubs’ will remain closed in Dublin when they reopen across the country on September 21.
In Dublin, social and family gatherings outside the home are likely to be prohibited, while home visits should be restricted to people from another home. Sports matches will also be suspended, although there is an exemption for elite sport, which includes club championship games.
Organized indoor events such as conferences and events in theaters, cinemas or art venues will not be allowed. Outdoor events will be limited to 15 people. Gyms will be allowed to open for individual training only. Churches and places of worship will remain open for private prayer only, although funerals will have an exemption. Even here, however, only 25 mourners will be allowed.
The government’s public health experts made the latest recommendations Thursday night, amid growing alarm over a surge in cases in the past seven to 10 days.
The Taoiseach, Micheál Martin and the Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar are likely to make an announcement later today.
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