New Covid-19 cases detected in local hospitals

MULTIPLE cases of Covid-19 are being treated in Limerick hospitals.

A spokesperson for University of Limerick Hospitals Group (ULHG) confirmed two of its hospitals are treating new cases of coronavirus.

Some 35 Covid-19 positive patients were reported in University Hospital Limerick (UHL) at Dooradoyle.

An unspecified number of cases are also present at St John's Hospital at Johnsgate in the city centre.

As a result of this, visiting patients remains under review at UHL, with relatives of patients asked to contact the hospital to make arrangements.

In the first instance, they should use the UL Hospitals Group visitor app which is available through smartphones or online at www.ulhgvisitor.com

Visiting has been restricted at St John's Hospital in its entirety except in the case of compassionate grounds with cases monitored daily by the nursing teams and infection prevention and control staff.

Symptoms of Covid-19 can be similar to those which appear in people suffering from the common cold, or influenza.

The disease was at its most prevalent between 2020 and early 2022 when several measures were put in place to stop its spread.

A pandemic was declared, and as part of this, there was a widespread lockdown which saw social distancing encouraged and saw a temporary pause placed on indoor dining and drinking.

Pubs and other food businesses were forced to close.

It was the advent of a successful vaccination programme which paved the way for the end of restrictions.