Slight fall in numbers with Covid-19 in hospital

There has been a slight reduction in the number of patients in hospital with Covid-19, although the numbers in intensive care units has risen to 206.

Overnight figures published by the Health Service Executive put the number of patients in hospital with Covid-19 at 1,897, a small reduction on the same time yesterday.

Of the 206 patients in ICUs, 120 are on ventilators.

Overall, there are 27 adult ICU beds free in hospitals.

Cork University Hospital is dealing with 156 Covid-19 patients, the largest number in any hospital in the country.

University Hospital Limerick has 148 patients with the virus, while St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin has 135.

Yesterday, health officials said there had been 93 further deaths related to Covid-19, the largest number reported on a single day.


Latest coronavirus figures 


Three of the deaths reported occurred in December, 89 occurred in January and the date of one death is still under investigation.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said that Covid-19 ICU and hospitalisation numbers are of critical concern.

He said there is significant pressure on healthcare workers and on the provision of acute medical and surgical non-Covid care and urged people to stay at home and only travel for essential reasons.

New figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre for the week to 16 January show the number of Covid-19 outbreaks increased last week.

Overall outbreaks increased to 293 compared to 220 the previous week. The main increases were seen in residential institutions and hospitals.

The number of outbreaks in workplaces also rose to 41 compared with 25 the previous week. Private house outbreaks reduced for the second week in a row.

Meanwhile, the Government is expected to complete a review of the current Covid-19 restrictions at next Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting.

The restrictions run until 31 January, but look certain to be extended.