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The HSE has called on the public to get their Covid-19 booster vaccine and to behave like they have the virus, if they have symptoms or a positive antigen test.
Anne O’Connor, the HSE’s chief operations officer, said at present the healthcare system was coping well with 532 Covid-19 patients currently in hospital, with 92 of those in intensive care.
She told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that figures were growing every day, with 99 new patients admitted with the virus on Tuesday.
There were 668 acute beds available in the system on Wednesday, but that was down from 1126 on Tuesday, she said.
Ms O’Connor said there will be pressure on capacity in hospitals next week – as there usually is after Christmas, but this year such pressure would be compounded by staffing levels which are reduced because staff are close contacts.
“We can’t run a service without staff,” she said. Under a derogation agreement, staff who are a close contact but are asymptomatic can return to work following a risk assessment and subject to regular antigen tests.
“We need them at work,” she added.
Defended
Ms O’Connor defended the PCR testing system, pointing out that between 30,000 to 40,000 tests were being carried out every day which was an unprecedented level.
She said she understood if people were upset that they could not get an appointment, but the system “can only do so much”.
“If you have a positive [antigen] test, please treat it as if you have the virus,” she said.
Ms O’Connor said at present Model 3 hospitals such as Letterkenny, Mullingar and Tullamore were very busy and would soon run out of beds, while larger Model 4 hospitals like Beaumont, the Mater and St James were also “quite busy.”
Capacity will be challenged in the coming weeks, she said, but patients requiring care for cancer and cardiac conditions would be prioritised. She said capacity in private hospitals would also be accessed.
“This will pass, we just need to get through the next few weeks,” she added.
People aged 30-39 are to be invited to receive Covid-19 booster shotsfrom Wednesday, the HSE has said.
People aged 16-29 who received a Janssen primary dose will also be invited for a booster vaccine, in line with guidance from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac).
‘Overcome’
Meanwhile, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said Ireland is likely to “overcome” the Omicron wave of Covid-19 infections more quickly than earlier waves.
While January would be a “difficult” month due to infections and work absences, the number of virus patients in hospital would be lower than last winter, he told The Irish Times.
In an upbeat assessment of the current, record-breaking wave of cases, Mr Varadkar said Covid-19 infections were likely to be very high “for the next few days” and to peak “in the next week or so”.
A further 9,006 Covid-19 cases were recorded in the State on Tuesday.