The third wave of Covid-19 is different to the waves that have come before. This time, the virus has spread more rapidly and is affecting a wider range of people from all age groups.
But now it is stretching the health service beyond its limits, as the numbers of patients goes "beyond comprehension". The Department of Health was yesterday notified of 63 further coronavirus-related deaths, the majority from this month, and 3,569 more cases.
Yesterday, there were 1,750 patients with Covid-19 sick in our hospitals; almost double the Wave 1 peak. 176 of these patients are being treated in intensive care, an increase on the highest levels last April (155).