Covid soars ‘largely driven’ by new subvariants – Dr. Colm Henry symptomatically urges self-isolation

There is currently a “slower upward wave” in Covid-19 cases across the country, according to the HSE’s chief clinical officer.

Colm Henry said the latest increase is “largely driven” by the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants, which he says have a “growth advantage” over the previous variants, meaning they are more transferable.

As of 8:00 am this morning, 812 patients have been hospitalized with the virus, 33 of whom are in the ICU.

“If you’re not vaccinated, you don’t have protection against infection or serious illness. This variant is usually in the upper respiratory tract. People notice a different type of illness,” he said.

“There are more than 300 people with Covid in hospital today who have not been vaccinated, they are totally disproportionately represented. A total of 812 in the hospital, now it’s rising, if you look back at the end of May, it went to a low of 167 in that last week of May.

“Of the 812 just over half are actually sick with Covid so it’s important to put some perspective on this and even if you look at the ICU numbers, which haven’t risen sharply, they have fluctuated between 33 and 24 over so over the past few days they have risen, but not strongly.”

dr. Henry said just over half of patients currently hospitalized with the virus have not had their first booster vaccine. He said Covid-19 is a “highly disruptive” virus in a hospital environment.

He said there are currently 305 ICU beds in healthcare and the HSE hopes to reach 321 by the end of the year.

“We’re looking at about 600 health professionals testing positive with Covid, the week ending June 22, there’s a week delay in that, community about 200. Again, nothing like the numbers we saw in March, but we’re still seeing an increase.” ,” he told The Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk.

“We’ve put together a Lung Covid plan, we’ve been working with experts last year, we’ve recruited a number of infectious disease consultants who have a particular interest in this, and we’ve established a model of care, not just for the workforce, but for people across the board. country .

dr. Henry said the main message for people is to isolate when they are symptomatic.

He said 96 percent of the adult population has received the primary vaccine and 76 percent of the first booster.

“I would like to say it was a seasonal virus, this is not a seasonal virus in the way we understand seasonal viruses because right now a record level of ED presentations has certainly been contributed by Covid-19, but this is a virus that we have in all seasons,” he says.