Mayo's Covid mortality rate is fifth highest in Ireland

A total of 140 Covid-related deaths have occurred in Mayo since the outbreak of the pandemic last year up to February 12 this year, according to the Central Statistics Office.

It is the fifth highest in the country behind Dublin (1,387), Cork (313), Kildare (220) and Limerick (173).

A total of 81 of the Mayo deaths have been recorded since the beginning of 2021, the highest weekly figure (21) occurring during the week ending Friday, January 15 last - the CSO measuring its weekly statistics during a seven-day period from Saturdays to Fridays

There were 20 during the week ending January 22, 15 during the week ending January 29, 14 during the week ending February 5 and 11 during the week ending February 12.

In comparison, 59 deaths took place in the county as a result of the virus during 2020.

The median age of those who lost their lives in the county has been 83.

Mayo's death statistics are significantly higher than the other four counties in Connaught.

Galway has recorded 92 Covid-related deaths, Roscommon 41, Sligo 17 and Leitrim 12.

According to the CSO, most deaths throughout the pandemic occurred in the older age groups.

However, in the week ending February 12, 2021, 91% of deaths were in people aged 65 years and over.

Since the outbreak, Mayo has registered 5,607 confirmed cases, the median age of patients being 42.

That compares to Galway with 8,620, Sligo with 4,638, Roscommon with 2,048 and Leitrim with 693.

A spokesperson for the CSO said due to the recent surge in cases there are a large volume of deaths and cases where underlying cases are unknown in recent weeks, therefore the current numbers of cases with underlying conditions are likely to be underestimated.

This data is being reviewed by Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and for this reason, information on underlying conditions has not been included in the CSO's latest report.