[ad_1]
Ballyjamesduff in Cavan now has the highest Covid-19 infection rate in the country, while incidence rates are increasing significantly in Cork City, new figures show.
The latest breakdown of infection rates in 166 local electoral areas (LEAs) reveals a rapid rise in infections across the country with the emergence of new Covid-19 hotspots.
Only five LEAs in Waterford, Tipperary and Leitrim counties remain nearly virus-free, and fewer than five cases of Covid-19 have been detected in the previous two weeks.
The latest data from the LEA shows that the national infection rate has nearly doubled from 88 cases per 100,000 residents two weeks ago to 177.2 cases per 100,000 residents on October 12.
The 14-day incidence rates show that Ballyjamesduff in Cavan, with a population of more than 25,000, now has an infection rate that is more than three times the national average.
The rural area has experienced a nearly 20-fold increase in infection rates in the last two weeks, from 34.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants on September 28 to 651.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants on October 12, which illustrates how quickly the virus can spread.
Spiraling Covid-19 infection rates caused Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal counties to move to Level 4 restrictions this week, while the rest of the country remains in Level 3 restrictions with an additional no-visit notice. other homes.
Data from the LEA also shows dramatic increases in infection rates in Cork City, with Cork South Central ranked in the top ten Covid-19 hotspots nationally and with the highest rate in Munster.
In the past two weeks, 219 new cases have been detected in Cork City South Central, which has a population of more than 38,000.
This has given the electoral area an infection rate of 566.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, five times the infection rate observed two weeks ago (112.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants).
Rates are increasing in other parts of the city as well, with the five electoral areas having an above-average infection rate: 298.8 cases per 100,000 residents in Cork City North East, 256.3 cases per 100,000 residents in Cork City North West, 252.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in Cork City South West and 231.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in Cork City South East.
The virus has also spread further in areas, such as Bantry and Kanturk, which were virtually Covid-19 free a fortnight ago.
In Munster, other Covid-19 hot spots are evident in Ennis, Shannon, and Kilrush in Clare and Adare and Rathkeale and parts of Limerick City.
The figures come as the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) recommended on Thursday that the entire country move to Level 5 restrictions for a period of six weeks.
The government has yet to make a decision on the recommendation.
Daily case numbers hit new records this week, prompting warnings that Ireland could see up to 2,500 cases a day and more than 400 people in hospital for Halloween.
As of Friday, there were 244 patients in the hospital with Covid-19, with 30 people in intensive care.
[ad_2]