An Intensive Care Consultant has warned that elective procedures will continue to be impacted at the region’s main hospital throughout the winter season.
Dr Catherine Motherway has expressed hope that the health system will cope with increased demand over the coming months, despite increased cases of covid-19.
It comes as the HSE has revealed that there have been 180 cases linked with the re-opening of schools.
Last night 114 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Irish hospitals, a daily increase of 6.
73 of those were in the Capital.
But outside of Dublin, University Hospital Limerick now has the highest number of confirmed cases of COVID-19.
There are 7 confirmed cases of the virus among patients at the hospital, with 1 of them being treated in the intensive care unit.
While NPHET has warned that Ireland doesn’t have the capacity to deal with a sharp rise in cases, Intensive Care Consultant at UHL, Dr Catherine Motherway is hopeful that the region’s main hospital will cope this winter.
The HSE says it’s putting a “huge focus” on the spread of Covid-19 among children and parents, after 180 cases and 11 outbreaks have been confirmed since schools re-opened.
Since then, over 4 thousand children and school staff have been tested.
Head of the HSE, Paul Reid has told the Oireachtas Covid committee that there’s been a rise in the positivity rate among schoolchildren being tested:
Meanwhile, NUI Galway has labelled crowds of young people gathered at Spanish Arch in the city last night as “deplorable”.
The university says while the vast majority of students are doing their utmost to stay safe, they will not hesitate in dealing with any breaches of public health guidelines in line with the student code of conduct.
That has penalties up to and including expulsion.
Meetings are being held between Gardai, the city council and NUI Galway leadership and Galway Councillor Eddie Hoare is concerned the scenes will see tougher restrictions introduced in Galway.
