Today, the country's Chief Medical Officer urged parents to keep their children at home from school and childcare facilities if they display new symptoms of illness.
Professor Breda Smyth said: "As schools and childcare facilities re-open after the Christmas break, I am urging parents to be vigilant for symptoms of respiratory viruses in children."
"If your child has any new-onset flu-like symptoms such as congestion, cough, runny nose, or high temperature, parents should continue to be mindful of others and, if possible, keep their children at home from school or childcare facilities."
"Children should be kept at home for at least 48 hours after their symptoms have fully or substantially resolved."
There is significant pressure on the health service, particularly hospital Emergency Departments and GP services, with high numbers of cases of Covid-19, flu, and RSV.
No hospital is unaffected by overcrowding today with patients on trolleys or chairs in each of our hospitals.
Nurses cannot continue to weather this storm without adequate support and protection from their employer. Government must treat this like the crisis it is. pic.twitter.com/rKtp5RHV3n
— Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (@INMO_IRL) January 4, 2023
The latest Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation trolley watch recorded 838 people waiting without a bed in hospitals today.
It's a drop of 93 on yesterday's figure but is still the second-highest number recorded since records began. University Hospital Limerick continues to have the highest number of patients waiting on trolleys at 76.
The general secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says nurses will consider striking if the situation in emergency departments doesn't improve. Phil Ní Sheaghdha says nurses are not satisfied it has taken a crisis for action to be taken.
Meanwhile, the Government will not be moving to a mask mandate based on the current public health advice, according to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly.
He said, "we have this perfect storm of RSV, the flu, and COVID obviously - as well as all of the normal pressures. We'll be managing this on a daily basis."
Last night I visited EDs @svuh and @Beaumont_Dublin to meet staff and assure them that everything that can be done is being done and acknowledge the enormous distress for patients and staff. I’ll update Cabinet on the situation this morning. pic.twitter.com/0Dlfr63Vfj
— Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) January 4, 2023
CMO, Professor Breda Smyth said: "As we are still in the middle of flu season, I am appealing to parents to please consider the ‘flu vaccine for your child. It’s a nasal spray and is administered free of charge by GPs and pharmacists."
"I would also encourage people to keep up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines and please make an appointment for a booster if you are eligible."
