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Thursday, July 8, 2021
Health Service Executive (HSE) of Ireland chief executive Paul Reid warned today the growth of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, or COVID-19, will “most likely” “outmatch our supply of [COVID-19] vaccines over the coming weeks.”
At the HSE’s weekly briefing on the novel coronavirus, Reid warned modelling indicated cases of the variant “will rise during July and probably peak into August”, according to Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). Reid added supplies of the COVID-19 vaccine will “dip” next week and through the month of July, as reported by The Irish Times and the Irish Independent. 280 thousand will receive a dose of the jab this week, compared to over 300 thousand last week.
Reid said the HSE is making plans for how hospitals can manage ahead of an increase in COVID-19 patients, including postponing some elective care, and sending patients to private institutions. As reported by The Irish Times, five hospitals are currently facing high attendance and trolley numbers, according to HSE chief operating officer Anne O’Connor. “Some gaps” remain following a major cyberattack on the HSE in May, with some sites still closed, or operating in a limited capacity.
As of Friday, there are 50 patients hospitalised due to the virus, according to the Government of Ireland, up from 39 two weeks ago and 46 last week. However, the number in intensive care units remains stable at 15. Ireland recorded 631 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday. HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said Ireland has the fourth-highest number of new cases in the European Union. Over 55% of new cases were in those aged between 18 and 44.
Dr Henry added the Delta variant now accounts for 70% of cases, and thus “the dominant” strain in the country, and “we expect it to get higher”. The 14-day average of 121 cases per 100 thousand and five-day moving average of 462 cases are up 20 and 44% from last week, respectively, according to RTÉ. Areas with highest incidence are County Donegal, County Waterford and County Sligo, according to The Irish Times.
Reid went on to say community testing remained “as high” as in January, but with a positivity level down from 50% on January 11 to 4.6% today.
Two million people in Ireland are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and 70% of the adult population have received at least one dose, according to PA Media. Despite this, Reid added by the time cases are expected to peak “[w]e know we won’t have all of the adult population vaccinated by then”. As reported by the Irish Independent, Dr Henry warned of the potential “somebody unvaccinated will get sick and somebody vaccinated get sick”, pointing to “the rapidly rising cases” of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom.
Chief medical officer of the Irish Department of Health Dr Tony Holohan advised people in the government press release to “continue to adhere to the public health advice to stop the spread of the disease”.