That's according to Mullingar's Professor Kingston Mills.
The Chief Medical Officer has warned of a "significant risk" to staff and patients from the rising numbers with Covid-19 in hospital.
In Dr Tony Holohan's letter to the Health Minister on January 7th, he also said the increase will reduce the ability of hospitals to provide safe, high-quality care.
The latest figures show there are 2,023 patients with the virus in hospital and 200 in intensive care.
Mullingar's Professor Kingston Mills, an immunology expert at Trinity College Dublin, says the pressure on the system will remain for a number of weeks:
Westmeath Family Left Homeless After House Fire
Ryanair Boss Calls For Morning Pre-Flight Pints Ban
Offaly Garda Station To Host Family-Friendly Open Day Event
New Housing Developments Planned For Offaly And Westmeath
Motorist Arrested In Laois For Being Seven Times Over Drink-Drive Limit
Major Renovation Planned For Award-Winning Midlands Bar
Brad Pitt Spotted Filming In Laois
Offaly Community Invited To Discuss Town Centre Development
Fresh Objection To Stephen's Green Plans Lodged
Plans For New Laois Fire Station Advance To Next Step
Midlands Hospital Marks International Day Of The Midwife
Laois Primary School To Hold Skydive Fundraiser
Offaly Students Raise Awareness For Road Safety
Enoch Burke Refuses To Purge Contempt As High Court Stand-Off Continues
New Pedestrian-Cycle Bridge Opens In Westmeath Town
Dry Conditions On The Horizon For The Midlands This Week
Over €120k Of Contraband Seized In Midlands, Rosslare Europort and Dublin
Government Is Determined To Provide Necessary Services - Robert Troy
Westmeath Gardai Seize Marked Gas Oil Across County
Laois Among Worst Hit Counties For Missing And Stolen Cattle