4,962 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed as CMO reiterates the need to stay at home

4,962 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed on Sunday evening, bringing the total number of new cases across the weekend to 8,356.

Seven additional deaths have also been reported which is up from the four notified yesterday. Announcing today’s numbers, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tony Holohan said: “This is a critical time. We are seeing a really significant surge in infection. This is not only unsustainable for the healthcare system, but also a deeply concerning level of preventable sickness and suffering that we must work together to address.”

Dr. Holohan said that numbers in ICU and hospitals have doubled in a week, following on from an earlier INMO statement that hospitals are currently under “extreme pressure.” Holohan called on the public to “act as though you are infectious. Stay at home. Work from home starting from tomorrow and if you are an employer ask your employees to work at home.”

Holohan’s message concluded by saying: “Simply put: when you work at home, you protect the frontline healthcare workers who have worked tirelessly to keep us all safe throughout this pandemic. Hold firm and remember them.”

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