Tullamore still has the highest COVID-19 rate in the country

Tullamore remains the area in the country with the highest 14-day rate of COVID-19 per population.

New figures from the Department of Health last night (Thursday) show there were 220 new COVID-19 cases in the Tullamore electoral area from March 9 to March 22. This represents a rate of 754 per 100,000, significantly more than any other electoral area in the country.

Of the 166 electoral areas in the State, Buncrana in Donegal had the second highest rate of cases at 510 per 100,000. The national average is 158.3 per 100,000.

Elsewhere in Offaly, Edenderry also recorded a rate among the top ten in the country.

There were 88 new cases in the Edenderry electoral area between March 9 and March 22, representing a rate of 377.3 per 100,000, the sixth highest in the country.

Birr electoral area recorded the lowest rate of new cases per population in Offaly. There were 52 new cases during the fortnight concerned, a rate of 204.1 per 100,000.