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Ireland’s death rate from Covid-19 is projected to rise this month, with medical director Dr. Tony Holohan warning that current transmission levels put “too many people in funeral homes.”
Dr. Holohan has urged people to step up their efforts against the virus, saying public health chiefs “have never been as concerned about the pandemic as we are now.”
Professor Philip Nolan added that the number of people in intensive care units could rise to between 200 and 400 by mid-January if no action is taken.
It occurred in the context of a record 6,110 new confirmed cases and six more deaths.
Dr. Holohan said: “That level of infection just drives too many people to the hospital and, sadly, too many people to funeral homes.
“That’s the reality, we just can’t deal with infection levels like this, as an acceptable level of infection.”
He added: “This is a very, very serious situation and requires immediate action.
“The numbers are unsustainable and will ultimately lead to a very, very significant death rate that we will sadly see in the course of January.
“But we still have the opportunity as a country to come together and take action, to turn this around so that we can limit or mitigate the impact of this.
“We are going to see a very significant impact on mortality.”
Do you know what it means to “restrict your movements”? At this critical time, it is vital that we all understand this public health term.
Watch this video and RT. @CMOIreland # COVID-19 #Stay at home #firm hold
– Department of Health (@roinnslainte) January 4, 2021
Dr. Holohan warned that the provision of non-Covid care in hospitals is now under threat, and non-urgent services will be reduced from Wednesday.
There are now 3,000 hospital employees who are out of work due to Covid-19, either through infection or as close contact.
Dr. Liam Woods, HSE’s national director of acute operations, said the absences are affecting the operation of hospitals across the country.
He said: “That can clearly be very damaging. The infection rate, the virus rate in the community is fundamentally affecting what is happening in the hospitals. “
High levels of transmission also pose a risk to the planned reopening of schools after the Christmas holidays and Dr. Holohan said he met with the Taoiseach today to discuss the issue.
While transmission rates in schools remain low, he said, the high level of transmission in the community now poses a risk to its ongoing operation.
Dr. Holohan also urged employers to allow people to work from home whenever possible, saying they have a “duty to care” for their workers.
Anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms is now being warned that they are unlikely to have anything other than Covid-19 and should isolate themselves.
Dr Holohan said: “If we are people experiencing symptoms, and if you have flu-like symptoms, you can now also accept that this is Covid.
“The positivity rate in the community, as we have heard, is close to 25 percent in public labs.
“If you have these symptoms, it is unlikely that it is anything other than Covid at this time.
“So if you have those symptoms, if you are waiting for a test, if your GP has referred you or if you are waiting for the results of a test, you need to isolate yourself.
“That means staying in your room, away from other people in your house, and not coming into contact with other people.”
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