Only two counties have higher rates of COVID-19 per population

 

Offaly has among the highest rate of COVID-19 cases in the county per population.

Latest official figures show that there were 46 confirmed cases in Offaly as of midnight, Tuesday, March 31.

This equates to a rate of 59 per 100,000 population, the joint third highest in the country, with Wicklow, after Dublin at 136.4 per 100,000 people and Westmeath at 91.2

This is relevant as there have been reports that any lifting of restrictions in the future may be done on a regional basis, leaving the stricter restrictions in place in areas with higher rates of clusters and general cases.

 

Meanwhile, recent figures also show that there were 37 healthcare workers in the midlands who have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

There are eleven clusters of cases in the Midlands, one in a nursing home, one in a private house, two in hospital or hospitals, three, described as travel related and one in a community hospital/long stay setting, one in a pub, and two described as community outbreak.

The recent figures also show that of the 91 deaths which had been reported by midnight of Tuesday, 81 were of people in the 65 and over age group, six in the 55-64 age group, one in the 45-54 age group, one in the 35-44 age group and two in the 25-34 age group.

 

Eight children under one have also contracted the virus, the figures show.