Rate of Covid-19 in Carndonagh, Co Donegal now five times national average

Carndonagh in Co Donegal has recorded the highest rates of Covid-19 for the fifth week in a row with levels of the virus now at five times the national average.

Other parts of the county have also maintained a strong presence in the top 10 worst affected areas of the country.

As virus levels continue to soar in Northern Ireland, latest data in the Republic shows high levels across Border counties.

The overall national 14-day incidence rate in the Republic, recorded as cases per 100,000 of population, has increased from 422.5 to 493.2 in the space of a week.

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Carndonagh, which retains it position as the worst-hit of the 166 Local Electoral Areas (LEAs), has seen its incidence rate accelerate from 1,880 per 100,000 to 2,558 this week, an increase of 36 per cent. It is the only area to have breached the 2,000 mark and has 1,000 cases more than the next highest LEA.

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The weekly data released by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) shows where the virus is spreading in the country. In recent weeks, the northern half of the Republic has recorded higher rates than elsewhere.

The Donegal LEAs of Buncrana, Letterkenny and Milford occupied sixth, eighth and ninth places, with case rates of 1,288, 980 and 973 respectively.

In Co Monaghan, Ballybay-Clones recorded a case rate of 1,542, placing it second on the list. Bailieborough-Cootehill in Co Cavan is in third position, with a case rate of 1,433.5. Monaghan Town, in fourth place, had a rate of 1,414.

Swinford in Co Mayo was in fifth place (1,388) and Claremorris in 10th (928.5).

The data also shows a general rise in high 14-day incident rates - seven of the 10 worst LEAs have breached the 1,000 mark compared to four last week. For the second week running there are no LEAs below the 100 mark (160 being the lowest), whereas there were three two weeks ago.

Last week Galway city centre had dropped from fourth to eighth position, and is now in 30th position as its case rate fell from 854 to 614.

Galway City East meanwhile has fallen further from 13th to 18th with the case rate dropping from 763 to 707.

The figures show here are now about 100 LEAs with 14-day-incidence rates below the national average. The five areas where Covid-19 transmission is currently at its safest level are Clonmel, Co Tipperary (160); Tramore, Co Waterford (165); Athlone, Co Westmeath (167); Lismore, Co Waterford (168); and Roscrea, Co Tipperary (181).