Irish health chiefs sound alarm amid spike in Covid cases and hospitalisations

Irish health chiefs have confirmed a new spike in Covid-19 cases amid a rising number of infections in the community and hospitals around the country.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has confirmed an almost 20% rise in cases in a week up to May 25 when 306 cases were reported. There are 154 cases in hospitals across the country up to May 25, the most recent week for which figures are available. The rise is also being seen across Europe amid a warning to those with symptoms. Provisional figures for last week show another rise for Ireland.

"Indicators of COVID-19 circulation in Ireland are increasing. Several other European countries are reporting signals of increased COVID-19 activity also. The JN.1 COVID-19 variant is currently the predominant variant in Ireland and globally," a spokesperson commented.

"Since the emergence of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) in winter 2021, we have observed waves of increased COVID-19 circulation every 3 to 5 months. The last substantial wave of COVID-19 activity in Ireland was in December 2023 and January 2024. We experienced spring and summer waves of increased COVID-19 circulation in 2022 and 2023. Thankfully these spring and summer waves have been smaller than the winter waves.

"There is no evidence of a new SARS-CoV-2 variant associated with more severe disease and indicators of severe COVID-19 disease in Ireland remain low. However, as in previous waves, if COVID-19 case numbers increase substantially, some level of increase in people experiencing severe disease is likely to follow. We have also seen in previous waves that increased circulation in the community results in an increase in outbreaks in nursing homes and other healthcare settings."

The HPSC advises people symptoms of Covid, even mild ones, to stay at home until 48 hours after those symptoms are mostly or fully gone. You should avoid contact with other people, especially those at risk from Covid.

Fatigue, a high temperature/having chills and a dry cough are the top three Covid symptoms, according to the HSE but there are others to be aware of. They include a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, runny or blocked nose, conjunctivitis, sore throat, headache, muscle or joint pain, different types of skin rash, nausea or vomiting, diarrhoea and chills or dizziness.

If you test positive for Covid, the current advice is to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days from the date you first had symptoms. The HPSC is also reminding people that the spring booster for Covid-19 is available until June 14. It is available for those aged 80 or older, those aged five or older with a weak immune system and those living in a long-term care facility.