IRELAND'S Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has told the public to stay at home and not to go into work as Covid-19 hospitalisations continue to surge nationwide.
He stressed that the situation in the country's hospitals remains "stark" and that the public must do all it can to help and to prevent it from getting any further out of hand.
This week, HSE chief Paul Reid described it as the "the biggest health crisis in the history of the state".
As of this morning, over 2,000 Covid-19 patients are being treated in Irish hospitals - the most there has ever been since the pandemic began.
"The situation in our hospitals is stark," Dr Holohan said.
"We are seeing people of all ages being admitted to hospital and being taken into intensive care units (ICUs).
"The levels of infection are such that your chances of transmitting or getting Covid-19 are very high, and we know that a proportion of those cases will lead to serious illness and mortality.
"There is no group who should feel the public health advice does not apply to them.
"It is only if we act together that we can keep ourselves, our loved ones, and health and social care facilities safe," he added.
"As we look forward to the week ahead, consider your choices and make the right ones.
"Do not go into work tomorrow if you can work from home. If you are an employer, facilitate remote working for your employees."
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