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The number of people in hospital with Covid-19 has now dropped below the numbers in intensive care units at the peak of the third wave.<\/p>\nThe number of people in hospital with Covid-19 has now dropped below the numbers in intensive care units at the peak of the third wave.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday there were just 179 patients in hospitals with the virus, compared to the 219 in ICU in January.<\/p>\n
At that time there were 2,020 patients in hospital in total and Ireland had one of the highest daily case tallies per capita in the world.<\/p>\n
Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin said \u201cthe strategy is working\u201d ahead of a meeting of Cabinet on Tuesday where they will discuss reopening society.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is critical and the people\u2019s adherence to the guidance has really borne fruit in terms of the numbers coming down.\u201d<\/p>\n
He told reporters: \u201cCovid-19 has upended society and Government is very anxious that we can restore normality to society as soon as it\u2019s safe to do so.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be looking at a range of issues, personal services, religious services for example.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere has been no gatherings for religious worship or funerals, and that\u2019s very difficult for many, many people. We understand that.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn terms of hospitality, it has suffered more than most over the longest period of this pandemic.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs I said last month we will be looking at hotels, B&Bs for example, and guest houses for June, and we will look at other sectors as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Government will make an announcement next week on reopening plans for May, although it is expected the road map will also include detailed plans for June and July.<\/p>\n
The Taoiseach praised public\u2019s efforts in keeping the virus at bay. He said that when businesses begin to reopen, he wants them to stay open.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all determined by our success in keeping the virus numbers down, keeping the hospitalizations down, and to be fair, the Irish people have responded very well to the strategy really, and it\u2019s working,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the fact that it is working underpins the importance of what I\u2019ve been saying consistently. That which we reopen now we want to keep open for the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to keep pressure of the health system, right into the future as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
HSE chief executive Paul Reid has praised the progress the country has made in recent months.<\/p>\n
He tweeted: \u201cWe\u2019re down to 179 #COVID19 patients in hospital. Now a far lower number of people in total in hospital than we did in ICU alone in January when it was at 219 in ICU & 2,020 in hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cVaccines are helping. Let\u2019s protect this progress & we\u2019ll get to a much better place.\u201d<\/p>\n