The Covid-19 burden on acute hospital care has increased considerably, according to the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan.
In a letter to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, he warned: "If the recent rising trend in hospitalised cases continues, we are likely to see increased pressure on the hospital system over the coming weeks. "This will further reduce hospital capacity to admit patients for scheduled and unscheduled care." Mr Donnelly, who was sent the letter on 10 June, confirmed to RTÉ News yesterday that rising infections were putting pressure on the health system.
He told RTÉ's Your Politics podcast that if Covid cases in hospitals go above 1,300 to 1,400, then "you will have to start cancelling operations".
He also said further Covid-19 restrictions are not under consideration. The number of people in hospital with Covid-19 has increased from 355 - when Dr Holohan expressed his concern at rising cases - to 515 this morning.