Northern Ireland is to enter a period of intensified coronavirus restrictions after the Stormont Executive announced closures of schools, pubs and restaurants.
Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan are moving to Level 4 restrictions under the Government’s Plan for Living with Covid-19 from midnight on Thursday until November 10th.
In Cavan, the 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 population is 571, the highest in the State. In Donegal, it now stands at 353.7 and in Monaghan at 360. The next highest counties are Clare at 307.2 and Meath at 299.9.
yIMFA
Derry City and Strabane council area remains the worst hit in the UK and Ireland, with a case incidence rate of 991.6 per 100,000 people over the last seven days. Over the last 14 days, the incidence rate in Derry and Strabane stands at 1,754 cases per 100,000 people.
That is more than double the next highest rate, which is 820.7 per 100,000 in Belfast.
cAYD5
The latest data shows that cases in Dublin have been broadly stable for the past two weeks at 185.4 per 100,000 people, just below the national rate in the Republic of 190.7 and lower than ten other counties.
Within the city itself, infection rates vary. Dublin North Central has the highest rate currently, with 249.1 cases recorded per 100,000 people over the last fortnight.
Dublin South, which encompasses Blackrock, Dún Laoghaire, Stillorgan and Shankill, has a rate of 86.7 cases per 100,000.
9l5rQ
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly on Wednesday afternoon refused to rule out border counties moving to Level 4 restrictions, after the issue was raised by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar.
Speaking at a post-budget press conference, Mr Donnelly said there is an “ongoing conversation” with the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) as to the possibility of new restrictions.
Mr Donnelly said any decision to move counties up a level would have to be dealt with “very sensitively”.
Nphet are due to meet on Thursday to decide whether a move to higher levels of restriction would be appropriate.
However, the decision to call an emergency Cabinet meeting could pre-empt that advice.
