There are 133 people with Covid-19 being treated today at University Hospital Galway and 93 at Mayo University Hospital.

This includes 17 patients in intensive care at the Galway hospital, and 3 at Mayo University Hospital.

As reported on Midwest News yesterday, the HSE has joined forces with Gardai and the Galway City & County Councils to urge the public to redouble their efforts to halt the spread of the virus.

2,688 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Co Galway in the past two weeks, and the high numbers are resulting in ongoing pressure on services at University Hospital Galway.

There are plans in place to expand ICU capacity at the hospital for patients who need critical care, with 7 surge levels, and the hospital is now at level 3 according to the CEO of the Saolta Hospital Group Tony Canavan.

He expects the upward trajectory of the third wave of the virus to continue for another number of days, before numbers in hospital will start to reduce next month - if they reduce in the community.

Mr Canavan said there has been a steady increase in Covid admissions to University Hospital Galway since the start of the New Year, and says the easing of Covid restrictions in early December, more socialising over Christmas and the new strains of the virus are all significant factors in the third wave.