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New data has shown that there are regions of the country with such a high prevalence of Covid-19 that more than 1pc of their populations have been infected in the last fortnight alone.
The latest figures from the Department of Health show that the growth rate of the disease continues to increase.
The Ballyjamesduff Local Electoral Area (LEA), Co Cavan, currently has the highest 14-day incidence ever seen in Ireland at 1,488.3 per 100,000.
This is equivalent to one in 67 people in the region having received a positive Covid-19 test result in just the last two weeks.
This figure was more than five times higher than the national average when the data was collated, since 384 cases have been confirmed in the region in the last fortnight.
The region with the second highest incidence of the disease is Ratoath in Co Meath with a figure of 1,212.6, which means that approximately one in 80 people living in the LEA has received a positive result in the two weeks leading up to 19 October.
Large swaths of the country had 14-day incidents well above the national average of 279.3 when the data was captured.
To illustrate the geographic spread of the virus, regions in all parts of the country now show a very high incidence.
Some of the highest incidences per 100,000 in the country include Gorey in Wexford at 979.9; Galway City Central at 981.2 and Cork City South Central 804.
Cavan-Belturbet also shows a fairly high incidence at 774.3, illustrating why Cavan has seen such a rapid increase in the number of cases in recent weeks.
Regions that previously would not have been Covid-19 hotspots now show worryingly high numbers, such as Sligo-Strandhill at 582.1 and Listowel in Kerry at 565 per 100,000.
Ashbourne in Meath also shows a worrying figure of 753 per 100,000, while Maynooth with 612 was the highest in Kildare.
The Dublin region with the highest incidence rates is Ballymun-Finglas at 456, while Palmerstown-Fonthill is at 386.5.
The Midwest regions showing peaks of the disease are Ennis at 462.6 and Adare-Rathkeale in Limerick at 443.9.
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