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Donegal continues to have the country’s highest 14-day Covid-19 incidence rate, posting a rate per 100,000 people of 391.1 according to the Health Surveillance and Protection Center (HSPC) on Oct. 7.
Data released today shows Monaghan to be the county with the second highest rate, at 257.4, followed by Clare (182.6), Longford (168.8), Roscommon (165.8) and Dublin (165.6). )
The worst affected areas are along the Donegal border to the north. Government data based on local electoral areas (LEAs) updated Thursday shows that Lifford-Stranorlar has the highest incidence rate at 14 days per 100,000 of any of the 166 LEAs in the Republic.
Lifford-Stanorlar is followed by two other LEAs from Donegal, Carndonagh (347.8) and Letterkenny (332.3).
In other parts of the country, Monaghan LEA also has an incidence rate above 300, registering 317.3, as well as Granard in Longford with 384.1 and Kimmage-Rathmines in Dublin with 306.1.
Two areas in Co Clare also have high 14-day incidence rates, with Kilrush LEA registering 290.6, while neighboring Ennis has a rate of 226.5.
At a press conference yesterday, HSE CEO Paul Reid warned that the rapid increase in the number of cases would affect hospitals and ultimately lead to more deaths due to Covid-19.
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, he said that the number of cases recorded last week has been shocking, urging the public to act responsibly to curb the spread of the virus.
“If someone is looking at the trends and numbers that are coming in right now, it’s pretty serious,” Reid said.
Reid’s comments come as there are currently 179 patients treated for Covid-19 in Irish hospitals at 11 a.m. today, a jump of 20 people from yesterday’s figures. Of the 179 patients, 30 are being cared for in Intensive Care Units (ICU).
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