The number of patients being treated for Covid-19 at the region’s main hospital jumped by a fifth over the weekend.
The lastest HSE figures show there were 52 covid patients at University Hospital Limerick this morning, a rise of 9 on Friday’s figure.
The number of patients in intesive care after contracting the virus, however, decreased by one over the same period.
They’re among 513 patients across the country who are being treated for the virus, the first time the figure has been above 500.
It comes as the level of overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick has increased as the week begins.
There were 64 patients waiting to be admitted to beds there this morning, according to the latest INMO figures, 49 of those in the Emergency Department.
The overall figure is a rise of 38 on Friday’s figure.