Hospital overcrowding has hit its highest level since the start of the covid-19 pandemic, according to the INMO.
The union says 381 people were waiting on trolleys this morning with 47 patients waiting in Cork University Hospital, the highest in the country.
There are now 217 patients with the virus receiving care in hospitals - with 31 of those in ICU.
INMO General Secretary Phil ni Sheaghdha says nurses are being put under extreme pressure due to the virus and overcrowding:
They have been working in these very uncomfortable environments now for just over 18 months, wearing restrictive peepee. And now their environments themselves are in question and we want the HSE to confirm to us that they will undertake independent evaluation of how safe, these workplaces are because it is the opinion of our members that they are becoming increasingly increasingly unsafe.
