Ireland will have to move to a Level Four lockdown in weeks if the virus is not brought under control, a leading intensive care specialist fears.
The move would be necessary to help hospitals cope with the expected increase in Covid-19 cases, with warnings that 400 people with the virus may need to be admitted by the end of the month.
Dr Colman O’Loughlin, clinical director and consultant for the ICU at Mater Hospital, said: “We have to reduce the virus or increase the capacity of hospitals. You cannot increase the capacity of a hospital in three to four weeks. “. . It just can’t be done. ”
He added: “I am afraid that we will have to go to Level Four restrictions to control transmission rates and protect hospital capacity.”
A move to Level Four would see a ban on visitors to private homes and social gatherings. Schools and childcare would remain open, along with essential businesses.
Dr. O’Loughlin’s comments reflect growing concern among public health officials about what awaits hospitals, as new cases rose to 613 yesterday, with 10 additional deaths, the most infections since 26. April, when there were 701 cases. Eight of the 10 deaths reported yesterday occurred before September.
Dr Ronan Glynn, Acting Medical Director of the Department of Health, said last night: “The figures that were reported today and over the past week represent a significant escalation in the profile of Covid-19 in Ireland. We need to work together once more to have a significant impact on the number of cases in the community and ultimately to reduce the number of people who get sick, go into hospitals and intensive care, while protecting non-Covid health services ” .
Professor Philip Nolan of the National Public Health Emergency Team warned that 400 people could be in hospital with Covid-19 by the end of this month, based on the current trajectory of the virus. He said the rate of hospital admissions is now growing at about 4 percent per day.
In a sign of increasing pressure, Dr. O’Loughlin said that if the number of patients in his own intensive care unit increases from its current three, plus one in intensive care, to seven or eight, some non-urgent services or electives run the risk of being downsized. .
In an exclusive interview, Mater CEO Alan Sharp said the hospital has the ability to “turn on” 140 Covid-19 beds and could “deal with” up to 300 cases. It would be “extremely difficult,” he said, “but I think we could cope with that if necessary.”
He revealed how the hospital is planning a second “surge” of the virus while maintaining all services. Starting tomorrow, the hospital will launch 24/7 tests for all patients admitted to the facility.
