Two Offaly areas among ten worst in country for new COVID-19 cases

Two Offaly areas are among the worst ten in the country for new COVID-19 cases on a population basis.

New figures released last night show that the Birr electoral area had the fifth-highest COVID-19 cases of the 166 electoral areas in the country, and Tullamore the seventh highest.

In the fortnight from February 16 to March 1, there were 127 new cases in the Birr electoral area. This represents a rate of 498.5 per 100,000 population.

It’s closely followed by the Tullamore electoral area which had a rate of new cases during the same fortnight of 459.5 per 100,000. There were 134 new cases recorded there.

It’s no surprise that some of the electoral areas in Offlay have been included in the worst-performing areas, as the county itself has had the country’ worst rate of COVID-19 now for almost two weeks.

The neighbouring Moate electoral area, was also among the worst ten in the country, at eighth position.

Elsewhere in Offaly, there were 54 new cases in the Edenderry electoral during the fortnight from February 16 to March 1 – a rate of 231.5 per 100,000. This means that all three Offaly electoral areas recorded rates above the national average of 201.2 per 100,000.

Nationally, the areas with the lowest rate of COVID-19 per population was Listowel in Kerry (20.9), followed by Skibbereen-West Cork (26.4)

WORST TEN ELECTORAL AREAS

Rate of new cases per 100,000 population (February 16 - March 1)

Galway City Central 767.7

Limerick City East 608.3

Longford 579.6

Ballymun-Finglas 523.5

Birr 498.5

Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart 461.7

Tullamore 459.5

Moate 450

Donegal 426.5

Dublin North Inner City 414