New figures show a surge in the numbers of people contracting Covid-19 while in hospital. The HSE said up to the end of last year 967 people had caught Covid-19 in hospital.
However, the HSE told RTÉ's Prime Time programme that the figure has increased dramatically in the past three weeks. Since 27 December 846 patients have also caught Covid-19 in hospital.
The HSE said when community transmission rates are at the level they are, it is "inevitable and unavoidable that there will be outbreaks in hospitals".
Speaking on Prime Time this evening, Professor Martin Cormican, HSE National Lead for Health Care Associated Infection, said there is concern about Covid-19 spreading in hospital settings.