LATEST: HSE boss says virus putting ‘inconceivable strain’ on hospitals as over 4,500 new cases confirmed

A further 4,650 people have contracted Covid-19, it was confirmed this evening.

The Department of Health also announced the number of patients being treated in hospital for the virus now stands at 643, up nine since yesterday. This figure is up 20% on last week and 40% on two weeks ago.

Of those in hospital, 118 are being treated in intensive care, a drop of one since yesterday.

The latest figures come as HSE chief executive Paul Reid warned the situation in hospitals and the health system is “very serious”. Mr Reid said the current wave is putting an “inconceivable strain on the health system”.

“Just to give you a flavour of some of the information on ICU admissions between 27 June and 13 November, there were 476 ICU admissions in that period of Covid-19 positive patients, of which just over 20% remain in ICU. Just over 54% have been discharged and over 25% sadly passed away in ICU,” he added.