HSE warns of rise in covid and flu cases attending emergency departments

THE HSE is seeing an increase in people with respiratory illnesses attending emergency departments, a spokesperson has warned.

Some 538 people with flu and 282 with covid attended emergency departments this week, an increase from 312 (flu) and 144 (covid) the previous week, and there are currently 30 outbreaks of covid in hospitals and 24 in nursing homes, again an increase from last week.

The spokesperson said that the rise in flu and covid infection is very steep, so they are urging the public to attend emergency departments only for major health emergencies.

Dr Colm Henry, HSE Chief Clinical Officer, advised anyone with respiratory symptoms to avoid visiting hospitals and nursing homes, saying: “There is no room for complacency and I urge people to follow public health advice - stay at home if you have symptoms and get vaccinated - before we reach the peak of flu season in the very near future.” 

Dr Éamonn O’Moore, Director of National Health Protection, added, “The new JN.1 variant of covid is fast becoming the dominant strain. This variant may be more transmissible than previous variants, resulting in more infections.

“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.”