Covid trends in one Mayo district remain worryingly high

While the average rate of Covid-19 infection across Ireland has fallen by 14 per cent in the last two weeks, the latest data shows that infection rates are still worrying in one region of Mayo.

The Swinford electoral area has the 15th highest rate in Ireland after 136 new confirmed cases in the past two weeks, leaving it with a 14-day incidence rate of 798.8 per 100,000 for its population of 17,286.

That's considerably above the national average of 450.9.

The Claremorris and Ballina electroral districts also remain above the national average.

Claremorris has an infection rate of 578.5 per 100,000 of its population of 27,141.

The area recorded 157 new cases in the past two weeks.

Ballina's rate is 509.8 after 128 new cases were recorded in a region with a population of 25,110.

Castlebar, Westport and Belmullet districts are below the national average.

Castlebar, with 108 new cases, has a rate of 360 per 100k of its population of 29,992.

Westport, after registering 78 new cases, is rated 424.4 per 100k of its population of 18,378.

Weekly figures released by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre monitor the 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 of population across the country’s 166 local electoral areas (LEAs).

A fortnight ago the average incidence rate had climbed to 526.4 but has fallen to 450.9 since.

Updated reports due to be published later this week will be studied closely.