HSE chief welcomes reduced Covid-19 activity at Mayo University Hospital

HSE Saolta chief Tony Canavan has welcomed reduced numbers of Covid-19 patients in Mayo University Hospital - but warned that the service remains alert to the possibility of the virus rising again.

The number of positive cases at the Castlebar facility was down to seven today while the centre's ICU is Covid-free.

He stated: "We are looking at a reduced level of Covid- 19 activity in our hospitals now.

"However, somewhat worryingly in the last two weeks, we are also seeing that the level of improvement in the community has plateaued, so that there has been no significant improvement or reduction since March 10.

"It is a concern that we have not seen a good improvement despite the country remaining under Level 5 restrictions and so we must keep the situation under review."

He added that in the battle against Covid, hospital services over January were reduced significantly, including elective surgeries and that efforts are now ongoing to restore services in a measured way.

"We remain conscious of there always being a Covid possibility in the background and must maintain the separation of Covid and non-Covid service steams and this has an impact on the level of services."