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Westmeath Worst Affected By Covid Over Christmas

Tuesday, 11 January 2022 09:00

Its incidence of the virus was more than double the national average.

Westmeath has the highest incidence rate of covid-19 in Ireland over Christmas - more than double the national average.

The latest figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre show the Lake County had a rate of 3,056 cases per 100,000 people.

Clare and Kilkenny make up the top three.

Laois has the fifth highest rate in the country, at 1,799, followed by Offaly at 1,729.

The median aged of those who contracted the virus in the midlands is 29.

5,494 cases of covid-19 were confirmed in the midlands over Christmas.

Westmeath was worst affected, with 2,713 infections recorded, followed by 1,464 in Laois, and 1,317 in Offaly.

That accounts for 8.5 per cent of the 65,044 cases reported in Ireland in the last week of 2021.

However, the true number of cases is expected to be higher.

The HSE estimates up to 150,000 infections may have escaped official confirmation, due to the high demand for PCR tests.

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