Number of Covid patients in Mullingar hospital the highest since February

The number of patients being treated for Covid-19 in Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar has reached a nine-month high.

According to the HSE’s own figures, on Sunday evening there were 22 Covid patients being treated in Mullingar hospital, the highest number since February 2, when Ireland was in the middle of the third Covid wave.

The number of Covid patients being treated in Mullingar has risen steadily since the start of October. This day last month, September 19, there were six people with Covid being treated in the hospital.

In the 14-day period between October 1 and October 14, a total of 383 people in Westmeath tested positive for Covid-19, while the 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 is 431.5.

Carlow (785 per 100,000), Longford (479.5), and Waterford (474.3) are the counties with the highest Covid infection rates, while Wicklow (300.5), Wexford (291.2) and Offaly (286) have the lowest.

Last Tuesday management at MRH Mullingar suspended visits to wards. The hospital said that the ban on visiting was being reintroduced to “protect the safety of patients and staff” and to “reduce the spread of infection”.

The Westmeath Examiner understands that a cluster of new Covid infections was detected at the hospital earlier this month.

In a statement issued to the Westmeath Examiner yesterday, Tuesday, hospital management said: “Hospitals and Emergency Departments (ED) across the country are experiencing high numbers of seriously ill patients requiring care.

“Regional Hospital Mullingar’s Emergency Department and General Hospital are extremely busy with people attending for a range of complex and diverse treatments. The hospital would ask patients to consider their care options before attending the Emergency Department.

“If you do come to the Emergency Department and are not triaged as seriously ill, you may need to wait for a long period of time to be seen. Patients who require urgent care will be prioritised.

“We’d also like to remind people of the current visitor restrictions we have in place at the hospital. This is a precautionary measure to protect the safety of patients and staff. It will also help reduce the spread of infection.

“For more information regarding the restrictions visit, www2.hse.ie (search for ‘Hospital services and visiting restrictions during Covid-19’).

“Hospital management would like to thank the public for their support and understanding at this time.”