The pressure on hospitals from the unprecedented surge in Covid-19 patients is expected to peak in the next week, according to public health officials. Officials are hoping the recent reduction in Covid-19 case numbers will translate into a fall in Covid-19 hospital patients from the current level of almost 1,800 to 650-800 by the end of January “if it goes well”. The Health Service Executive has effectively now reached its intensive care unit limit and is using its surge capacity, its chief executive Paul Reid said. A further 28 deaths of Covid-19 patients were reported on Thursday, along with 3,955 new cases. With the number of Covid-19 deaths worldwide expected to pass 2 million in the coming days, Dr Ryan warned people have become “numbed” to the numbers.

Source: The Irish Times January 15, 2021 03:10 UTC