Covid-19 and flu instances double in every week as lethal new JN.1 pressure spreads
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has issued a warning as a surge in Covid-19 instances has led to 30 outbreaks in hospitals.
The variety of folks visiting emergency departments with Covid-19 infections has doubled this week, with 54 outbreaks reported in hospitals and nursing houses nationwide. There’s additionally been a 72% rise in sufferers presenting with flu signs over the previous week. The HSE warns that an infection numbers are more likely to hold rising within the coming weeks.
This week, emergency departments handled 538 folks with flu and 282 with Covid-19. This is a major improve from the earlier week, which noticed 312 flu sufferers and 144 Covid-19 sufferers, the Irish Mirror studies.
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The HSE emphasises that everybody should do their half to stop hospitals from turning into overwhelmed. “Hospitals and community services around the country have put a sustained effort into ensuring hospitals are positioned for the traditional post-Christmas demand,” stated a spokesperson.
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However, they warned that the rise in flu and Covid infections could be very steep. They urged the general public to solely go to the Emergency Department for main well being emergencies and to make use of different choices for non-emergency conditions.
People are suggested to utilise native pharmacies and examine the HSE.ie web site earlier than going to their GP or ED if they’ve respiratory signs. The HSE additionally advises folks to get vaccinated at their GP clinic or pharmacy.
“If you are unwell, you should stay at home until 48 hours after your major symptoms have resolved; avoid visiting people who are more vulnerable if you are unwell, especially avoid visiting hospitals or nursing homes.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Dr Colm Henry, the HSE’s chief medical officer, warned that rising flu and Covid charges will put “significant pressure” on hospitals and care houses. He stated: “Our emergency departments are expected to encounter significant pressures as a result and we know from experience that a delayed peak in flu season such as we are seeing now, will inevitably lead to further pressures throughout the healthcare system with heightened risk of outbreaks in all facilities and delays discharging patients to nursing homes or step down facilities if they have flu or Covid,”
He added: “Vaccination remains the best way to reduce the incidence of these respiratory illnesses. The HSE is urging every eligible person to get vaccinated against flu and Covid as soon as possible.”
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The new JN.1 variant of Covid-19 is quick turning into the dominant pressure, and is extra transmissible, leading to extra infections, in line with Dr Eamonn O’Moore, director of nationwide well being promotion.
“We are still collating data in Ireland and internationally on whether it will result in more illness requiring hospital care but at this time we are not seeing that signal. However, with more infection around, there is greater risk some people who are vulnerable could become ill and require hospital care and we still need to protect our vulnerable members of society, children and adults, by doing what we can to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses.”
* This article was crafted with the assistance of an AI software, which hurries up Daily Star’s editorial analysis. An editor reviewed this content material earlier than it was revealed. You can report any errors to [email protected]
