Tackling Omicron wave like having 'one arm tied behind our back', says Reid

Tackling Omicron wave like having 'one arm tied behind our back', says Reid

HSE CEO Paul Reid speaking to media in Dr Steevens Hospital at a weekly HSE operational update on the response to Covid-19. Picture: Leah Farrell / Photocall Ireland

Despite growing evidence that Omicron is less severe than previous variants of Covid-19, the “extraordinarily high” case numbers are still putting the health service under strain, according to the HSE.

Its chief executive Paul Reid said the case numbers — which now routinely exceed 18,000 a day — combined with the 15,000 health staff out of work due to Covid-related issues, means that “it’s like tackling this wave with one arm tied behind our back”.

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