The centre of Galway city continues to have the worst coronavirus infection rate in Ireland, new figures show.
Galway City Central recorded 1,292 cases per 100,000 during February 9th to 22nd, more than five times the national average of 240. This has increased from last week when the area had a rate of 951.
The number of cases in the area is higher than the previous peak in early January. Many are thought to be linked to outbreaks among third-level students in Galway.
The latest Covid-19 data from local electoral areas in the Republic and postcode areas in the North show how the disease is spreading in different communities.
Both sets of statistics use the incidence rate of infection per 100,000 population, giving a better understanding of an outbreak than straight case numbers.
The next worst-affected area on the island was Ballymun-Finglas in north Dublin, with an infection rate of 798, down from 820 last week.
In Northern Ireland the BT70 postcode saw the highest rate of new infections – 146 people tested positive for the disease over the two-week period from February 8th to 21st.
That amounted to a rate of 673 cases per 100,000 people in the area, which covers Ballygawley in Co Tyrone.
Granard, Co Longford and Corca Dhuibhne, Co Kerry both recorded fewer than five cases over the previous two weeks.
In the North, the BT70 postcode in Co Tyrone recorded no new cases during the 14-day period.
The 14-day rate across the Republic is 240 per 100,000 population, down from 269 last week and 316 the previous week.
Loss of focus
Meanwhile, the public have been urged to keep their focus in the battle against the pandemic, with the HSE warning of a potentially “explosive” impact on healthcare services.
Health service boss Paul Reid has raised concerns over whether the public has the level of resilience needed to get through the current wave of the pandemic.
At an HSE briefing on Thursday, Mr Reid said higher levels of movement have been seen across society, including people going to work and between households.
He said if there is a loss of focus at this time, there is “a risk to all of us, to all of our families and society” and that this risk could rise to “quite an explosive level” in a short space of time.
In the North, the Executive's plan for leaving lockdown may not be published until Tuesday, Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill has said.
Work is set to continue on the plan across the weekend.
“It was our desire to publish a document on Monday and if we can we will,” she said.
“But if it takes until Tuesday, then so be it, as long as we get it right. I think that is more important.”
