Surge in Covid-related deaths at Mayo University Hospital revealed by coroner

Covid-19 related deaths at Mayo University Hospital (MUH) in recent weeks are running at a much higher level than at last year’s peak, a coroner has revealed.

Pat O’Connor, in whose coronial district the hospital is located, stated today: “In the past three weeks there hasn’t been a day in which I haven’t got at least one notification.

“There were four on Tuesday but that was possibly a carry-over from the weekend.

“The mortality rate from Covid at the hospital is much worse than at last year’s peak."

Most of the latest deaths at MUH are understood to be related to patients who were admitted from nursing homes.

“Covid is unfortunately rampant right throughout the community”, Mr. O’Connor stated.

“People need to keep their distance from each other and they need to observe public health guidelines.

"It boils down to everyone being careful as to who they socialise with.

He added: “Unfortunately there are a considerable number of deaths in the county and they have occurred as a result of infections that happened since mid- December.”

Official figures show that MUH has the 11th highest numbers of Covid patients in the country.

A total of 129 new confirmed cases in Mayo were revealed by the Health Protection Surveillance last evening (Wednesday) to bring the county's total to 2,203 for the past two weeks.

It leaves Mayo with a 14-day incidence rate of 1688 - above the national average of 1448.8.