Holohan to consider shortening Covid-19 isolation period

It comes as a further 11,741 cases of Covid-19 have today been confirmed.

The chief medical officer is to consider shortening the seven-day isolation period for those who test positive for Covid-19.

The decision to review the period was made at a meeting of the Cabinet health committee after it was briefed on the current situation by CMO Tony Holohan. Dr Holohan will review the isolation period and make a recommendation to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly.

It comes as a further 11,741 cases of Covid-19 have today been confirmed.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 5,252 PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19.

In addition, a total of 6,489 people have registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal.

As of Thursday morning, 1,535 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, with 58 of those currently being treated in ICU.

Sources say Dr Holohan told the committee there is no advice to change the current rules on mask-wearing and added that the current surge of cases is at its peak, with hospital admissions set to fall.

He also said the number of people in hospital because of Covid is “relatively low”.

A high-level source said the update was "business as usual" and said that Dr Holohan had not sounded any major alarm bells.

Most restrictions have now been lifted, however, advice remains to wear a mask on public transport and in health settings.

NIAC is expected to update the Government in the next week on the need for a fourth vaccine for vulnerable people, with a further 700,000 people who contracted the Omicron variant over Christmas now eligible to receive their booster shots.

Meanwhile, HSE chief Paul Reid has appealed to the public to take precautions to ease pressure on hospitals.

Rising case numbers are leading to cancelled procedures and staff absences, causing issues in the healthcare system.

"The impacts of the current Covid wave will continue to impact our hospitals and healthcare significantly through April," Mr Reid said.

"Please wear a mask in the appropriate settings and come forward for your booster vaccine once due. All actions can help protect and mitigate further impacts."

Emergency powers introduced two years ago to help fight Covid-19 expire at midnight.

They allowed the health minister to restrict travel, prevent gatherings, and close premises in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.

While restrictions have now been lifted, advice remains to wear a mask on public transport and in health settings.

The lapsing legislation would be needed for a mandate on mask-wearing to be reintroduced, something the government has ruled out.

Overcrowding crisis in hospitals

General secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), Phil Ní Sheaghdha, said the overcrowding crisis in hospitals means it is never too late to reintroduce it.

"Asking people to do it is not working because we see — even in emergency departments and sitting in waiting rooms in hospitals — not everybody is wearing a mask," said Ms Ní Sheaghdha.

She said there was now a widespread infection within the hospitals themselves and action needed to be taken to ensure people do not get sicker by attending hospital.

Consultant in emergency medicine Chris Luke said the situation was extremely challenging.

"There are difficulties in all the big hospitals. There are usual suspects, I suppose, there's Galway, Cork, Limerick, Tallaght, and Letterkenny that are particularly fraught in terms of trolley numbers," Dr Luke said.

"I know that in the last day or two there were about 75/76, perhaps even 80 patients on trolleys in Cork University Hospital and the Mercy.

"That is in addition to a huge reduction in the number of staff available to care for patients. It has been extraordinarily difficult."