Virus surge will see hospitals faced with double previous peak, warns HSE chief

HSE CEO Paul Reid addressing the media during a weekly HSE operational update on the response to Covid-19. 

The number of Covid-19 hospitalisations in Ireland is on the verge of hitting double the peak seen in the first wave of the virus, following a surge of 45,770 new cases in the last seven days alone.  

Almost a third (31%) of all cases in Ireland since the pandemic began have come in the last week, sparking grim warnings of what lies ahead for hospital workers.