Report reveals number of hospital patients who contracted Covid during third wave

Almost 900 patients in 15 Irish hospitals contracted Covid-19 while they were being treated for other health issues during the third wave of the pandemic, figures released to the Sunday Independent have revealed.

Up to 47 of the cases occurred at Mayo University Hospital from January 1 to 31, the report outlined.

The statistic was released to the newspaper by the Saolta Hospitals Group.

University Hospital Galway had one of the highest rates of patients becoming infected, with 115 people contracting the virus during January.

A total of 59 patients contracted Covid-19 at Sligo University Hospital over the same period.

St. James’s Hospital in Dublin had the highest number of patients infected with Covid-19 at 131.

The figures represent the first breakdown by hospitals of patients who were infected with Covid-19 after admission for other health issues.

Separately, the HSE has said that 1,972 patients contracted the virus in hospital since December 28.

The report quoted Dr. Colm Henry, chief clinical officer of the HSE, as stating last month that hospitals have since become “safer places” with cases falling from a peak of 500 a week in January to below 50 in March.