The Kilrush electoral area now has the highest incidence rate of COVID-19 in Munster.
The West Clare District, along with the Ennis area, now have some of the highest virus rates in the country.
Localised data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre shows the Kilrush electoral area has had 61 confirmed cases of COVID-19 between the 22nd of September and this past Monday, the 5th of October.
It’s an almost threefold increase in the area from the previous fortnight, with its rate per 100,000 population standing at 290.6.
That’s more than double the national average and the highest in this province.
In the Ennis electoral area, meanwhile, 70 cases have been confirmed in the same two week period – though it’s more cases than the Kilrush area, Ennis’ higher population means the rate per 100,000 is slightly lower, at 226.5 – still nearly twice the national average of 116.4.
It’s double the number of cases in the area during the previous two weeks in September.
These rates are higher than many areas of Dublin and Donegal, which had previously been subject to higher restrictions than the rest of the country.
Shannon’s electoral area also saw 30 new cases in the same timeframe to take its rate to 98.7.
It’s in stark contrast to the Ennistymon and Killaloe electoral areas, which saw just 11 cases between them in the same period.
It paints a picture of increasing concern here in Clare, with health officials locally continuing to warn about the spread of the virus.
Clare’s incidence rate of 157.38 per 100,000 as of Tuesday is now the fifth highest in the country.
Meanwhile, NPHET says the number of Covid-19 patients in hospital is growing ‘exponentially’..
The chairman of its modelling group says an average of 13 patients are being admitted every day.
Professor Philip Nolan says ICU admissions are also rising rapidly.
9 patients were being treated at University Hospital Limerick for the virus last night, a rise of 2 on the previous day, 2 of those in the ICU.
The total number of cases reached 40,000 last night, after 506 new infections were confirmed. Clare FM understands 31 of those were in Clare.
