LAST UPDATE | 7 Nov 2021

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS have confirmed 3,428 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.

As of 8am today, there were 478 Covid-19 patients in hospital, of which 75 were receiving intensive care.

Yesterday, there were 3,903 new cases of Covid-19, 444 people with the virus in hospital and 74 in ICUs.

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) said on Wednesday that there had been 56 deaths notified to them in the past week, bringing Ireland’s total to 5,492.

Meanwhile Dr Ina Kelly, the President of the Irish Medical Organisation, has expressed serious concern at the continuing high rate of Covid-19 infection across the country.  

Kelly, who is a specialist in public health, has warned that the continuing high rate of infection threatened the progress which the country has made against the virus over the past year.

“The next couple of weeks will be critical not just for the outlook on Covid but for the wider health service.  Our GP surgeries, hospitals and ICU units are all under extraordinary pressure.  

“We are being hit by a perfect storm of high Covid numbers, the annual winter flu season and shockingly high numbers on waiting lists,” she said.

Kelly said the IMO was particularly concerned at the knock-on impact from increased hospitalisation due to Covid.

“Covid 19 cases in hospitals means fewer beds to treat non Covid cases.  Our waiting lists are already in an appalling state.  We can’t afford to lose hospital staff and hospital beds to Covid 19.”

The doctor also urged bars, restaurants and hospitality venues to be more vigilant about checking the vaccinated status of patrons: “Those sectors of the hospitality industry who kept telling us  that they could be trusted to police protocols need to step up to the mark and demonstrate that they are as good as their word.”