Ireland's current Covid-19 situation remains vulnerable to a further deterioration, according to the Chief Medical Officer.
Dr Tony Holohan said that factors - including levels of social contact "over the festive period" - will determine the number of cases over the next few weeks and months.
In a letter to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, Dr Holohan said that NPHET had noted sustained pressure being seen across the health system.
NEW: CMO letter to the Minister for Health, outlining the latest #NPHET recommendations, is available here: https://t.co/OfZ4ek9COx
— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) November 26, 2021
Dr Holohan said that the continuing high case numbers suggests that this pressure "will continue for some time to come".
"The significant challenge this pressure presents to the continued delivery of healthcare, with a number of hospitals already curtailing the delivery of scheduled care in order to cope with rising numbers of Covid patients, was emphasised (at the NPHET meeting)."
Dr Holohan stated that deaths per day are increasing very slowly at around seven per day, or 200 deaths per month.
"This may increase, given the very high case counts," according to the letter, though booster vaccination in older persons may mitigate against this.
However, Dr Holohan added that there continues to be a significant number of outbreaks reported in settings with vulnerable populations.
In the letter, which was dated Thursday 25 November, Dr Holohan also wrote that demand for testing is higher than it has been at any point in the pandemic and continues to increase.
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"All pillars of the testing pathway are now operating at maximum capacity. Test positivity has rarely been higher, although appears to be stabilising across all age groups in recent days," he wrote.
To date, 112 Covid-related deaths have been notified in November.
Dr Holohan added that NPHET emphasised the importance of a continued focus on extending the Covid pass to all settings where there is high risk of transmission, as well as expediting the vaccine booster programme.
He also stressed the importance of continuing efforts to increase vaccine uptake in marginalised and hard to reach groups.
