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Northern Ireland’s health services are under heavy pressure with queues of ambulances forming outside the Antrim Area Hospital on Tuesday as Covid-19 claimed 14 more lives on the island.
Another eight deaths and 329 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in the Republic by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet).
This brings the total number of deaths from viruses in the State to 2,134 since the pandemic began and to 76,776 the total number of confirmed cases of the virus in the Republic.
Of the latter cases, 86 occurred in Dublin, 41 in Louth, 34 in Donegal, 25 in Limerick, 17 in Kildare, and the remaining 126 cases were distributed in another 20 counties.
The mean age of the cases was 37 years and 64% were under 45 years of age.
On Tuesday afternoon, 196 patients were hospitalized, up from 215 the day before. This included 31 in ICU, two fewer.
The national incidence was 84.7 cases per 100.00 people during the last 14 days. Donegal, Louth and Kilkenny had the highest incidences in the county, while Clare had the lowest.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday the Northern Department of Health (DoH) announced the death of six more people with coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths to 1,135. Another 486 people tested positive for Covid-19.
The Northern Health Minister said that he will present new proposals to the Executive aimed at limiting the spread of the coronavirus during the Christmas period.
Robin Swann told the Assembly that he would present a document Thursday with a “series of recommendations.” He declined to elaborate.
Northern Ireland emerged from a two-week “circuit breaker” lockout on Friday. From December 22-28, people from the North will be allowed to travel anywhere in the UK and “bubble up” with up to three more households from December 23-27.
Dr. Tony Holohan, Medical Director of the Department of Health during the launch of the National Covid-19 Vaccination Strategy at the Department of Health in Dublin on Tuesday. Photograph: Gareth Chaney / Collins
Growing concerns
However, there is growing concern over the prevalence of the virus and the pressure on hospitals in the North, and Northern Health Trust’s chief operating officer Wendy McGowan told the BBC that patients were being treated in ambulances and that even 17 queued outside the Antrim area. Hospital. “I’ve never seen ambulances lined up like this before,” he said.
The hospital network was operating at excess capacity Tuesday, with 104 percent of beds occupied, according to the Health Department.
The Prime and Deputy Prime Minister and the leaders of the other nations delegated to the UK spoke with UK Cabinet Secretary Michael Gove on Tuesday evening about plans to loosen the rules on family gatherings over the Christmas period .
A spokeswoman for the ministers said they would now discuss the situation with medical and scientific advisers. “It is expected that an update will be brought to the Executive on Thursday,” said the spokeswoman.
Deputy Prime Minister Michelle O’Neill said on social media that “it is clear that we are facing a very dangerous situation with the spread of Covid-19, the increase in hospitalizations and, sadly, people losing their lives.
“Sinn Féin will support any proposal put forward by the Minister of Health to address the current situation,” he said.
The North’s medical director, Dr. Michael McBride, warned Tuesday that “we are not where we should be or should be in terms of the transmission of the virus” and it was important that Christmas arrangements were “kept under review.”
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