Sir, – The number of intensive care beds now occupied by Covid-19 patients has risen above 100, approximately one third of total capacity. There has been very little discussion of when the mounting reduction in availability of intensive care for other patients must be halted by significant restrictions on society aimed at curbing spread of the disease.
A figure of 150 has, I understand, been proposed as the threshold by the Tánaiste, How he arrived at this arbitrary round figure is not clear. It appears to me to be a recklessly high number, representing approximately half of our intensive care capacity for adult patients, and one which should not be countenanced if it can be avoided.
Further, given the time lag between infection and ICU admission, it is reasonable to expect a significant overshoot in numbers of Covid patients in ICU after the introduction of greater restrictions. The time to act is now. – Yours, etc,
Dr TOM HOGAN,
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Castleknock, Dublin 15.