The number of hospital patients with Covid-19 is at its highest level since May 20th.
The latest figures released by the Department of Health reveal 26 Covid-19 patients were admitted to hospital in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number this morning to 344 coronavirus patients.
The figures show there are 39 coronavirus patients in intensive care.
The figure of 344 is the highest number of Covid-19 patients in hospital since May 20th.
On April 15th, there was a record number of 881 Covid-19 patients in hospital.
The number in ICU is the highest since May 29th.
Nine Covid-19 patients have been discharged in the last 24 hours.
Meanwhile, non-Covid healthcare services in Irish hospitals may need to be cancelled to facilitate critical care cases from Northern Ireland.
Senior Government sources told The Irish Times that hospital beds in the Republic may be needed in the event of a further surge of coronavirus cases in the North.
The sources said this could lead to the cancellation or deferral of non-Covid healthcare services.
There are 317 Covid-19 cases receiving treatment in hospitals in the North, with 37 in intensive care.
The Northern Ireland Department of Health said there was “no immediate or anticipated need” for patients to receive treatment in the Republic in a statement issued on Sunday.
A spokesman for the department added that “should either jurisdiction require support this will be provided where possible”.
He cited a “longstanding co-operation between respective authorities and health services in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland".
