Louth COVID-19 rate now one of highest in country

Louth now has the joint highest seven day incidence of COVID-19 cases in the country -a dubious honour which it holds with Donegal, where cases have remained stubbornly high for a number of weeks.

While nationally, the number of cases has been going in the right direction, the seven day incidence in Louth is continuing to escalate, to a seven day incidence rate of 116 per 100,000 of population

There were 265 new cases reported in the 14 days up until Saturday November 21.

The highest rate of cases continues to be in the Dundalk South Electoral area, where the incidence rate is 261 per 100,000 of population, over twice the national rate of 121.3.

As of Saturday, there were 25 COVID-19 patients in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, three in ICU.

Last week, National Pen confirmed that a number of workers at its plant at the Xerox Technology Park had tested positive for the novel coronavirus although it didn’t disclose how many.

In a statement, the company said those ‘ team members and identified close contacts where applicable are now in isolation, and all relevant health and safety protocols are being followed. All team members based in Dundalk who can work remotely are doing so with more than 60% of the workforce now working from home.’

It was also confirmed at the weekend that one resident at the St John of God residential campus for adults at Drumcar had died. Two other residents and nine out of 13 staff members working in a unit that houses three residents had contracted COVID-19.