The HSE says it's very worrying seeing the increase in Covid cases in hospital.
Latest figures show there were 1,018 patients with the virus in hospital yesterday - and while it is 12% than it was a week ago the total has fallen for two days.
That includes 45 patients in ICU.
Dr Colm Henry is Chief Clinical Officer with the HSE - he says the winter could be worse with flu and Covid.
"Health eservives right across Europe are worried. They're looking at the flu trends in Australia, we've had a relatively good two years free of influenza, and there are lots of reasons for that.
"Certainly an early flu season with a surge of cases in Australia, higher than expected, that coupled with further variants would create huge pressures for a healthcare system."
