CMO Warns Covid Case Numbers Will Spike As Restrictions Ease

The easing of restrictions will likely lead to daily Covid-19 case numbers of between 2,500 and 3,000.

In a letter to the government, sent last Wednesday, the CMO, said there is still significant uncertainty about the impact of covid-19 in the short term with incidence rates now high across the country.

TH warned that our hospital system remains in a fragile position as Ministers considered the easing of restrictions.

The latest modeling shows that case numbers will rise over the coming weeks.

In an optimistic scenario - 2500-3000 new infections per day will be reported by mid September, Up to 700 people could be in hospital, and as many as 130 people in ICU

In the most pessimistic of scenarios - there could be up to 12,500 covid infections per day.

Most likely - is that we will see highs of between 3000-5000 cases per day, while more than 750 covid patients may require hospital treatment.

Critical care beds may also be needed for between 150-250 people with the virus.

The CMO says the emergence of new variants is inevitable - but vaccines are likely to provide significant protection against them.

NPHET has said that mask wearing in certain setting will be required until at least the Spring of next year.