Rise In Covid Hospital Cases Forecast, As Taoiseach Faces Criticism For Defending Varadkar

A consultant in infectious diseases believes more people will end up in hospital with covid in the coming weeks.

It's after virus case numbers were above 1,800 for the second day in a row, with 1,837 new cases detected.
208 patients are being treated in hospital for the virus, a rise of ten on the previous day, with 31 in intensive care.
RCSI Senior Lecturer Eoghan de Barra says a surge in covid admissions will have knock on effects on non covid care.

Meanwhile Sinn Fein says the Tanaiste let the hospitality industry down in his recent actions.
Leo Varadkar said he didn't believe Failte Ireland guidelines were breached by his attendance at an event in the Merrion Hotel in Dublin, but it's emerged Failte Ireland was unable to get clarity from the Government on the rules for outdoor dining in the weeks before Katherine Zappone's party.

Sinn Fein's David Cullinane also hit out at the Taoiseach Micheál Martin for defending Leo Varadkar: