A decision on a major Covid rule change could be announced in the coming days as the Government consider reducing the isolation period for people who have contracted the virus.
The new measures could be brought in after both public and private sectors reported severe staff shortages due to employees being absent with Covid related illnesses.
Despite the rising number of cases, the Government will examine whether the isolation period could be reduced to allow employees to return to work sooner after infection.
READ MORE: Social welfare: How to qualify for Covid Illness Benefit as infection rates soar again
It comes as a new group has been established to replace the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet), to oversee the pandemic and advise the Government on how to react to the virus.
It will have up to 12 members, including public officials such as the chief medical officer.
The members of the group have not been announced, but Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said it would be unveiled “imminently”.
The shortages experienced by employers have given the Government a push to reduce the current seven-day isolation period to ease pressure on industries throughout the country, especially the public health sector.
A reduction in isolation periods would free up the more than 5,000 healthcare workers who are currently on leave due to the virus.
The increasing numbers of Covid patients in hospitals have led to calls for the reintroduction of face masks in public areas. However, despite the current spike in infections, Dr Holohan has previously told the Government that there is “no need” to re-introduce restrictions, including the mask mandate.
The World Health Organisation has disagreed with Ireland’s decision and has recommended that the Irish Government bring back Covid mask rules in some settings.
The news comes after the HSE warned on Thursday that the health system was struggling due to staff absences.
The HSE has now also advised overwhelmed hospitals to suspend elective care and focus on urgent time-critical patients.
The suspension will mean thousands of patients on waiting lists will have their procedures cancelled again over the coming week.
Ann O’Connor, chief operations officer in the HSE, said yesterday that one-third of beds were being taken up with Covid-19 patients in hospitals such as University Hospital Kerry.
Beaumont Hospital infectious disease consultant Eoghan de Barra said yesterday that more than half of the patients with Covid-19 were there for another illness and had had a positive test but were not symptomatic.
“It is a positive thing, but the downside is the sheer weight of numbers and the journey onwards for these patients. It is impacted by the fact they have this virus in their system.”
He said it might be time to manage those patients who had a positive test and symptoms of Covid-19 differently from those who did not have symptoms.
He added that patients with the virus with no symptoms may have their care for another illness affected even though Covid-19 was not troubling them.
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