No beds in local hospital as over 30 Covid-19 patients treated

The Athlone electoral area of Westmeath has one of country's lowest COVID-19 rates

The number of Covid-19 cases being treated at the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar has risen significantly, the most recent figures from the HSE have shown.

As of Monday evening, there were 33 confirmed cases of Covid among patients at the hospital, putting it in third place nationally in terms of Covid caseload.

Four of those with the condition were being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU).

The HSE also reported that at 10.30am on Monday, there were no general or ICU beds available in Mullingar.

Today, Tuesday, the Ireland East Hospital Group, of which Mullingar hospital is part, stated the Emergency Department was extremely busy this morning.

"The hospital is in escalation and the teams are working to manage the current In-Patient and Covid-19 Bed Capacity together with Scheduled Care.

"We would ask patients to consider their options before attending the Emergency Department. If you do come to ED and are not triaged as seriously ill, you may need to wait for a long period to be seen. Patients who require urgent care will be prioritised. Please attend the ED alone where possible.

"Hospital Management would like to thank the public for their support and understanding during this period

Also on Monday morning, the daily trolley figures bulletin from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), reported that there were 27 patients being treated on trolleys in the hospital’s emergency department. That number had reduced to 14 on Tuesday.

The most recent detailed local electoral area statistics show that up to Wednesday last, November 3, the total number of cases confirmed in Westmeath came to 7,608 – which amounts to 8.57 per cent of the county’s total population of 88,750.

In other words, almost one in 12 of the population of Westmeath has had the disease.

The figures, which were valid up to November 1, show the 14-day incidence rate in the Athlone local electoral area of Westmeath is the lowest in the county, and the seventh lowest nationally.

In the Athlone local electoral area, there were 82 cases confirmed during the fortnight from October 19 to November 1, giving a 14-Day Incidence Rate of 361.4 per 100k.

The highest 14-day rate per population in Westmeath was in the Mullingar Local Electoral Area. There were 225 cases there during the same fortnight giving a 14-day rate of 866.7 per 100k of the population, which is above the national average of 695.0 per 100k of the population.

Kinnegad LEA’s 14-Day Incidence Rate for the same period was 604.4 per 100k after 131 new cases were confirmed.

Moate LEA had 103 cases confirmed to give it a 14-Day Incidence Rate of 558.4 per 100,000 while in

There were 138 new cases in the Athlone electoral area of Roscommon during the fortnight concerned. This gives a 14-day rate per 100,000 of 690.7, just below the national average of 695.

As of Monday evening, the latest national statistics showed that there were 3,161 new cases identified that day.

Over the course of the week up to Saturday, there were 56 deaths to take the total to date to 5,492.

As of Saturday, 90.48 per cent of the eligible population aged above 12 had received at least one vaccine dose, and 88.91 per cent were fully vaccinated.