'It's hour by hour': CUH under 'intense pressure' as 46 Covid deaths confirmed in Ireland
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The 46 Covid-related deaths today confirmed by the Department of Health reflect the surging infection rates reported in recent weeks according to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Tony Holohan.
44 of the deaths occurred in January while 2 of the fatalities happened in December.
In total, the number of Covid-related fatalities has now reached 2,397.
Speaking this evening as the latest cases were confirmed, Dr Tony Holohan said the high mortality figures are set to continue due to the high levels of Covid-19 infection in the country.
"Unfortunately this evening we are seeing the effect of the recent surge of infections reflected in the increased mortality we are reporting.
"Unfortunately, due to the unsustainably high level of Covid-19 infection we have experienced as a country over the past few weeks, sadly these figures are likely to continue for the next period of time," said Dr Holohan.
The CMO said the public need to stay at home "out of respect" for those who have died or are receiving care from health workers.
"What we can do today, out of respect of those who have lost their lives and those currently in hospital or ICU - and those caring for them - is to hold firm and stay home,” he said.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) confirmed a further 3,086 cases of coronavirus today bringing the total number of cases since the outbreak began to 155,591.
A further breakdown of the cases confirmed today shows:
- 1,425 cases are men and 1,642 are women
- 54% of cases are under 45 years of age
- The median age of cases is 42 years old
- 604 cases are reported in Galway, 574 cases in Dublin, 466 were recorded in Mayo, 187 confirmed in Cork, 138 in Limerick and the remaining 1,117 cases are spread across all other counties.
The latest cases and Covid-19 deaths come as the number of people receiving treatment in intensive care has surpassed the spring peak last year.
1,692 patients are receiving treatment in hospital for the virus while 158 people are in intensive care, above the 155 patients reported last year in April during the first wave. 128 people were hospitalised in the last 24 hours while 88 people were discharged.
Speaking to Drivetime on RTÉ, Dr Conor Deasy, an emergency medicine consultant at Cork University Hospital (CUH) said the hospital is "under intense pressure".
Dr Deasy said: “Our numbers in ICU actually under-represent how much critical care is being provided on the CUH site.” He said the hospital has 147 Covid-19 positive patients and that nine people in intensive care for the virus are on life support, up from three on Sunday. Patients are also receiving non invasive oxygen support.
The consultant said CUH is treating the most Covid-19 positive patients in the country and that 13 people are intensive care with the virus while another five people in the emergency department could be admitted soon.
Covid-19 close contacts are impacting staff numbers and some non-essential services are no longer being provided. Mallow hospital, part of the Cork hospital group, and the Bon Secours Hospital, a private hospital, have taken patients to allow for more capacity at CUH.
Dr Deasy said the situation is very dynamic and involves constant problem solving.
“It’s hour by hour in terms of dynamic management, its hour by hour in terms of problem solving,” he said, “We’re managing the here and now.”
CUH and the Mercy University Hospital are among 13 hospitals in the country with no ICU beds.
The doctor said the patient profile in the hospital has changed and is a lot sicker than previous waves.
He said however some people with Covid-19 are presenting at the emergency department when other care options are better as their oxygen levels are not low enough to require admission.
“A lot of what I see, the group of patients I am seeing coming into the emergency department, they are feeling miserable, its day seven or day eight of having a Covid diagnosis, but they could have their care managed at a respiratory hub which they could access at their GP.," he said.
The consultant said it is a difficult situation as people are frightened but are still well enough not to be hospitalised.
Meanwhile, there are more than 100 Covid-19 outbreaks in nursing homes across the country, with more than 50 detected since the new year alone.
Nursing Homes Ireland said nursing homes are on high alert as the country remains in the grip of a third Covid wave that has seen 1,700 people in hospital this week.
The latest available data on Covid outbreaks shows that 22 new outbreaks were confirmed in nursing homes in the last week of December, as public health measures were relaxed.