The INMO has called for the reintroduction of mask-wearing in crowded and indoor settings.
While the Tánaiste has warned procedures may have to be curtailed as hospitals deal with a surge in Covid cases.
Leo Varadkar says they’ve had no public health advice on the move or reimposing restrictions – and they don’t anticipate it;
Nearly 64,000 cases were reported over the four day bank holiday weekend.
There are 1,338 people in hospital with the virus today, up 30 on yesterday.
660 patients are being treated on trolleys across the country, which is the highest number since the beginning of the pandemic.
660 patients are on trolleys today coupled with thousands of patients in hospital with COVID-19
We are calling for:
😷Masks to be introduced in indoor and crowded settings
🏥For the Minister for Health to declare a national emergency in our hospitals
👉 https://t.co/vkcmffF91i pic.twitter.com/mvt7Kfg6wg— Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (@INMO_IRL) March 22, 2022
The INMO says the numbers have increased by 15% in the past 24 hours.
St Vincents University Hospital is worst affected Dublin hospital with 58 patients awaiting a bed, followed by 35 at the Mater.
Emergency
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation is calling on the Minister for Health to declare a national emergency.
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha says: "We have seen a 15% increase of patients on trolleys in the last 24 hours with 660 patients for whom there are no beds.
"The Minister for Health needs to intervene and declare this trolley chaos for what it is - a national emergency.
"A range of measures must be taken now in the short to medium term including the curtailment of all non-emergency, elective care and the reintroduction of mask wearing in crowded and indoor settings.
"As of this morning, 7,753 patients have been without a bed in our hospitals since the mask requirement was dropped on February 28th. ESRI research published today shows that two-thirds of people are still wearing masks on public transport and when shopping.
"If we could increase this number through a re-introduction of mask wearing, it would help ease transmission numbers.
"Our nurses and midwives are burnt out and exhausted.
"We can’t expect them to be able to provide safe care in environments that are overcrowded while dealing with a highly transmissible airborne virus."
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