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HSE chief Paul Reid said Ireland is on track to have the ability to do 100,000 tests per week from May 18 onwards.
He said all 30,000 and 28,000 nursing home staff have been screened and the labs now have the capacity to perform 15,000 tests a day in the region.
He also confirmed that 120 million masks will be delivered to Irish health personnel this week.
HSE chief operating officer Colm Henry said there has been a decrease in the number of new Covid-19 cases in recent weeks.
He said that more than 70% of people who had the virus have now recovered in the community.
He said that if the R number had remained at 2.4 where it was in February, Ireland would have seen 12,000 deaths so far instead of 1,200.
“We are making improvements and now we know much more about the virus, but there is still much to know,” he said.
Reid said the numbers in the ICU continue to drop and are now 55% lower than the peak of 160.
“Now we can start non-Covid services in hospitals, but it won’t be easy,” he said.
However, he warned that the Irish health service cannot remain under pressure once the pandemic is alleviated.
Speaking at the weekly HSE Covid-19 briefing on Sunday, he said: “What we cannot do in the next phase is maximize the capacity of the Irish health service.”
He said that capacity will be needed in public and private health services in the future.
He warned of the uncertainty of possible future outbreaks and surges as restrictions are lifted, and urged an initial focus on vulnerable groups.
Reid said there are now three top priorities in non-Covid healthcare: cancer treatments, time-dependent surgery, including transplants, and maximizing the use of private hospitals.
He said that while the HSE is starting to resume regular hospital services, “we cannot return to overcrowded hospitals as was the case before the pandemic.”
“We need to keep capacity below 80% and protect Covid-19’s public and staff,” he said.
- Useful information
- The HSE has developed an information package on how to protect yourself and others from the coronavirus. Read it here
- Anyone with coronavirus symptoms who has been in close contact with a confirmed case in the past 14 days should isolate themselves from others; This means going alone to a different, well-ventilated room with a phone; call your GP or emergency department;
- After-hours GP services are not in a position to order tests for patients with normal cold and flu symptoms. HSELive is an information line and, similarly, is not in a position to order tests for members of the public. The public is asked to reserve 112/999 for medical emergencies at all times.
- ALONE has launched a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or face difficulties related to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak in Ireland. The support line will be open seven days a week, from 8 am to 8 pm, by calling 0818 222 024
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