Covid-19: Fears of St Patrick’s Day surge as number in hospital set to exceed 1,000 again

Concern has been expressed around the potential for St Patrick’s Day festivities to further encourage the spread of Covid infections as cases continue to rise, with the number of hospitalised patients set to exceed 1,000 again.

On Sunday morning there were 957 patients in hospital with the virus, up 62 on the previous day. This is the highest figure since mid-January.

Fine Gael senator Jerry Buttimer said compulsory mask-wearing in shops and on public transport should be reintroduced in light of the increase in Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations, and a rise in other respiratory conditions.

Trinity College Dublin immunologist Prof Kingston Mills described the continuing rise in cases and hospitalisations as concerning.

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“For ordinary healthy people this is not generally an issue, but for those at risk it’s a big concern. Many of these people are still cocooning, and broader society needs to do more to protect them.”

Mr Buttimer expressed concern that St Patrick’s Day celebrations will lead to a further rise in infections and serious illness. “Masks were got rid of too quickly. They’re not a silver bullet but it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

A major publicity campaign was also needed to encourage higher uptake of Covid-19 boosters, the Cork politician said.

Hospitalisations

Hospitalisations are up more than 50 per cent in a fortnight, though about half the total involve patients who were admitted for other conditions and then tested positive for Covid-19.

Thanks to the dominance of the less-severe Omicron variant, ICU numbers remain stable, at 41 on Sunday.

Many people on immuno-suppressive treatments, including cancer, MS and transplant patients, could have “serious problems” if they contract the virus, Prof Mills pointed out. “We mustn’t forget these people, yet the Government has to some extent turned its back on them.”

Prof Mills said the Government should not have dropped the requirement for compulsory mask-wearing on public transport, but he acknowledged any decision to reverse the removal of mask mandates would be unpopular with politicians and the public.

He said St Patrick’s Day parades were low-risk events because they take place outdoors but there was increased risk around parade-related entertainment and transport activities.

More detailed information was needed about the current rise in cases, he said, particularly in relation to the BA.2 subvariant.

Prof Mills said the vaccine campaign has lost “impetus” and needs to be revitalised.

Case numbers are rising in many European countries in what could be the beginning of a fresh wave in the pandemic. In China, cases have hit a two-year high, and authorities have closed schools in Shanghai and locked down several cities.