There has been a sharp fall in attendance at emergency departments since the start of the Covid-19 crisis, according to research published today.
The Economic and Social Research Institute has found that there were 45.4% fewer emergency department attendances per day in the week ending 29 March then there had been in the week ending 1 March.
The fall was even more prevalent in younger age groups, and the drop in the more serious cases, classified as very urgent, was 27% compared with a 32% decline in less urgent attendances.
The ESRI has said the timing of the reductions suggest that the public may be concerned about contracting Covid-19 at health facilities, or fear they would be adding pressure to the health services by attending.