HSE: 'No cause for alarm' despite Offaly's COVID-19 rates

The HSE has said there is no cause for alarm following news that Offaly has had the highest 14-day rate of COVID-19 per population in recent days.

In a statement to the Offaly Independent, Dr Una Fallon, the HSE's Director of Public Health in the Midlands, said: “While Offaly currently has the highest rate of COVID in comparison to other counties, there is no reason to be alarmed.

“Offaly is not a densely populated county so a small rise in the actual number of COVID cases, looks like a significant rise in COVID rates.”

She said cases were occurring “in a wide range of settings such workplaces, residential care facilities etc, all of which we are familiar with.

“No one setting explains the current numbers.”

She added: “I would to thank the public for their efforts to date and appeal to them to continue to adhere to level 5 restrictions, to wear a face mask, to stringently observe social distancing and practice good hand hygiene.”

The statement came as it was confirmed that Offaly, for the fourth successive day, had the highest rate of confirmed new cases of COVID-19 per population in the country over the previous 14 days.

The rate of new cases in Offaly in the 14 days up to midnight on Monday was 441.2 per 100,000, the highest of all 26 counties.

There were 22 new cases confirmed during Monday.