HSE Chief: Intensive care units will remain 'close to their limit for some time yet'

Paul Reid issued the warning as he said that the number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals is reducing.. File Picture

Intensive Care Units (ICUs) will remain “close to their limit for some time yet,” according to HSE Chief executive Paul Reid.

In a tweet this morning, he said that number of Covid patients in hospital now stands at 1,488.

He added that the are 210 patients in ICUs and ”a further 310 receiving high acute care”.

The numbers of #COVID19 patients in hospital are reducing, now 1488. Our ICUs will remain close to their limits for some time yet. 210 in ICU & a further 310 receiving high acute care. Please continue to protect yourself & help our hospital teams make further progress. @HSELive

— Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) January 30, 2021

The number of Covid patients in ICUs peaked earlier this month when 221 patients were in critical care on January 24.

Mr Reid added: “Please continue to protect yourself and help our hospital teams make further progress.” 

There, 108 people were hospitalised as of last night, six of whom were in critical care.

St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin, and Cork University Hospital (CUH) had the next-highest patient totals.

Last night, 48 deaths and 1,254 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed by the National Public Health Emergency Team.

The news came as the Taoiseach admitted Government assurances that the country will be fully vaccinated by September will not be met.

In an interview with the Irish Examiner, Micheál Martin conceded that the preferred target of having all adults vaccinated by September, as stated by health minister Stephen Donnelly, will be missed.

Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine approval

Meanwhile, a public information campaign on the roll-out of vaccines for those aged over 70 is set to begin this weekend.

The campaign follows the approval of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Commission (EC) on Friday.

Initial batches of the vaccine look set to begin arriving in Ireland by February 8, according to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly.

Unlike its Pfizer and Moderna counterparts, the AstraZeneca vaccine does not need to be stored at sub-zero temperatures.

As it only needs to be refrigerated to be stored, it is seen as being much easier to transport and administer.

Ireland is expected to receive 1.1m vaccines by the end of March - 300,000 fewer than were expected to arrive initially. 

The vaccine manufacturer said that initial deliveries to the EU will fall short because of a production glitch at a hub in Belgium.

AstraZeneca has told the EC that will not be able to meet its supply targets for the first three months of this year, an announcement that has caused considerable controversy around the EU in recent days. 

Here, The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) is due to meet this weekend to finalise guidelines on exactly how the vaccine will be used here.

Early doses of the vaccine will be administered at mass vaccination centres across the county, as well as in GP surgeries and chemists.