There are concerns about University Hospital Waterford's ability to cope if there's a Covid spike following this weekend's All-Ireland final.
With crowds of people expected to gather to watch Sunday's final between Waterford and Limerick, doctors have warned that the hospital is almost at capacity.
There are currently 11 patients in University Hospital Waterford who are positive with Covid-19. Two of those patients are being treated in a critical care unit.
The hospital is also dealing with a covid outbreak.
UHW is not alone - just under 300 staff are currently off work due to Covid 19 outbreaks at a number of hospitals.
University Hospital Waterford, St Luke's in Kilkenny, Tallaght Hospital and Naas General Hospital are all affected.
An outbreak at Letterkenny University Hospital has led to 129 workers being off.
Consultant at UHW Rob Landers told WLR that should the cases rise in Waterford, the situation would quickly become very serious:
"We've done very very well, we've managed to keep a lot of care going, particularly cancer care.. but if we were to lose those number of staff it would have a disastrous impact on all levels of care not just covid but everything else as well."
He said we had two battles to fight on Sunday - the hurlers on the pitch and at home. He advised the safest place to watch the game is at home within your bubble
GAA letter
That message was echoed by Waterford Senior Hurling Manager Liam Cahill who has also asked people to be mindful of the times we are living in.
And in an open letter by GAA President John Horan and the Association's Director General Tom Ryan plead with fans to watch and celebrate the All-Ireland finals with 'their safety and that of others in mind.'
The letter states:
"We learnt lessons after a number of clubs finals that prompted us to move to shut down our remaining club fixtures.
"We are calling on all of those who support our games and teams to follow the health guidelines, practice social distancing and to exercise caution at all times while watching and indeed after the games.
"We fully appreciate this is not the norm. In fact it goes against so much of what our games mean to people.
"However, it would be a travesty if the huge positive that have been our games would turn out to be a negative in the run up to Christmas because we abandoned our collective responsibility to play our part."
