Covid-19 latest: rise in number of people being treated in Cork hospitals

There’s been a sharp increase in the number of people with Covid-19 who are being treated in hospital.

Data from the Department of Health shows that on September 15th, 55 people with Covid-19 were being treated at hospitals around Ireland.

The figure is a significant drop from April 15th when 856 people were hospitalised, however, it is also a notable jump on last month - thirteen people with Covid-19 were hospitalised on August 11th.

According to the latest HSE Operations update, last night 73 people with confirmed Covid-19 were receiving hospital care around the country, including four people in Cork.

Of the 73 confirmed cases in hospitals, 12 people tested positive for Covid-19 over the past 24 hours.

In Cork, three people with confirmed Covid-19 were being cared for at the Mercy University Hospital last night and one person with confirmed Covid-19 was being treated at Cork University Hospital.

Two of these individuals tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 24 hours.

A total of 106 people with suspected Covid-19 were being treated at hospitals around the country, including seven people at the Mercy University Hospital and one person at Cork University Hospital.

Fourteen people with confirmed Covid-19 were being treated at critical care units around Ireland including one person who was being cared for at the Mercy University Hospital.

Last night, Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer of the HSE and Cork consultant voiced concern over the “sharp increase” in the rate of admissions of Covid-19 patients into acute hospitals.

“We know that without a reversal of these trends, admissions can escalate rapidly to the point where our healthcare facilities will be under unsustainable pressure. It is more essential than ever that we all adhere to the basic measures which can weaken the virus in the community,” he said.