WE'RE FACING A FLU TSUNAMI

THE HSE has issued a warning to the public to get vaccinated after an outbreak of flu and Covid across the country.

- BY JOHN KIERANS

Hospitals across Dublin and the North East in particular are coming under serious pressure and people are being warned to stay away unless they require urgent treatment.

Dr Deirdre Mulholland, regional director of public health HSE Dublin and North East told how a combined total of over 3,492 cases of covid-19, RSV and influenza have been notified nationally in the past week,and almost 3,000 of these are influenza.

Over the same week, emergency departments across the country have experienced significant increases in people presenting with influenza.

Individuals with covid and RSV are also presenting to EDs

At one stage Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda had 12 ambulances waiting outside to have patients admitted and were delayed there for three to four hours.