There is not a healthcare system in Europe that can handle the unmanaged spread of coronavirus, according to the Chief Clinical Officer.

From tonight, household visits will be banned across the country in a bid to cut down the numbers.

Meanwhile, Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan are moving to Level Four restrictions.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, HSE Chief Clinical Officer DR Colm Henry said hospitals are used to preparing for surges in infectious illnesses.

He warned however that if we all don’t work together to reduce the spreads of the virus, the health system can quickly become overwhelmed.

“This underlines the fact that the single most robust line of defence is not critical care beds and it is not acute beds,” he said. “It is our individual behaviours.

“The sum of our individual behaviours which add up to the total of our community defence. That is the single most robust defence.

“I can’t sit here and tell you that if that line of defence is overrun, that there is a healthcare system, not just in Ireland but across Europe, that would be able to withstand unmitigated surge in COVID cases. There is not.”

On The Hard Shoulder last week, Dr Henry said the HSE has added 23 intensive care beds to system since the outbreak began.

This morning he noted that if virus figures surge to a point where we need more than 350 beds, we will no longer be able to provide the same quality of care.

“I want to reassure people listening that we have surge plans in place including for intensive care beds,” he said.

“When I say it is an underlying defence, I mean that but if we get increased numbers of cases what our hospitals do is, they cancel other activities. They plan additional critical care capacity outside conventional intensive care units.

“We can protect such a surge up to and including about 350 beds. If there is a surge beyond that we can’t provide the same quality of care.”

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