Health service 'under very serious threat' from Covid-19 and flu, warns HSE chief

Paul Reid said over 30% of ICU capacity is now occupied by patients with Covid-19. Photo: Sasko Lazarov / Photocall Ireland

There is a “flood” of negative issues having an impact on hospitals, including Covid-19, early signs of the flu and respiratory conditions, the head of the HSE has said.

As of lunchtime on Thursday, there were 448 Covid-19 patients in hospitals, up 12% on last week, but down from the 486 on Wednesday morning. There were also 88 people in ICU.