By Carmel Hayes
LAOIS had a major spike in Covid infections today, with 27 new cases reported.
The sharp rise brings the county’s 14-day virus incidence to 222 per 100,000 people, up from 210.2 yesterday and far above the national average of 166.6.
The increase today was higher than any day in March, when 19 was the highest daily rise recorded in the county. Laois is among the five counties with the highest increase in cases today (see all county figures below).
For the second consecutive day, Laois has the seventh highest Covid rate in Ireland. There were 188 new cases in the county during the 14 days up to midnight last night.
The five-day moving average in Laois has increased to 17 cases a day, up from 11 this day last week.
Just over two weeks ago, on 15 March, the virus rate in Laois was just 81.5 per 100,000 people.
Portlaoise hospital had 11 Covid patients last night, including two in ICU.
Nationally, eight deaths and 591 confirmed cases were announced this afternoon. Four of the deaths occurred in March and four in February.
The median age of those who died was 74 and the age range was 51 – 94.
Since the pandemic outbreak over a year ago, there have been 4,713 deaths out of 237,187 Covid cases.
Of today’s cases nationwide, 72% are under 45 years of age and the median age is 31.
Counties with the highest number of cases today were Dublin (288), Kildare (40), Meath (30), Westmeath (28) and Laois (27), with the remaining 178 cases spread across 19 other counties.
As of 8am today, 264 Covid patients are hospitalised, of whom 62 are in ICU. There were 18 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
As of 30 March, 840,561 vaccine doses have been administered:
603,802 people have received their first dose
236,759 people have received their second dose
Today’s cases, 5-day moving average of new cases, 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 population and new cases in last 14 days (as of midnight 01 April 2021) (incidence rate based on Census 2016 county population)
| County | Today’s cases (to midnight 01Apr2021) | 5 day moving average (to midnight 01Apr2021) | 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 population (19Mar2021 to 01Apr2021) | New Cases during last 14 days (19Mar2021 to 01Apr2021) | |||||
| Ireland | 591 | 533 | 166.6 | 7,935 | |||||
| Offaly | 24 | 25 | 510.5 | 398 | |||||
| Donegal | 25 | 20 | 286.4 | 456 | |||||
| Westmeath | 28 | 21 | 258.0 | 229 | |||||
| Dublin | 288 | 235 | 252.3 | 3,400 | |||||
| Meath | 30 | 31 | 228.2 | 445 | |||||
| Kildare | 40 | 36 | 223.4 | 497 | |||||
| Laois | 27 | 17 | 222.0 | 188 | |||||
| Longford | <5 | 4 | 178.6 | 73 | |||||
| Cavan | 9 | 11 | 168.0 | 128 | |||||
| Louth | 5 | 13 | 161.4 | 208 | |||||
| Tipperary | 11 | 12 | 158.6 | 253 | |||||
| Wexford | <5 | 12 | 142.3 | 213 | |||||
| Wicklow | 20 | 8 | 108.8 | 155 | |||||
| Roscommon | 0 | 2 | 108.5 | 70 | |||||
| Limerick | 6 | 13 | 102.1 | 199 | |||||
| Galway | 21 | 17 | 100.8 | 260 | |||||
| Waterford | <5 | 5 | 99.8 | 116 | |||||
| Mayo | <5 | 9 | 85.8 | 112 | |||||
| Carlow | <5 | 3 | 68.5 | 39 | |||||
| Monaghan | 6 | 6 | 65.2 | 40 | |||||
| Leitrim | 0 | 1 | 62.4 | 20 | |||||
| Clare | <5 | 4 | 55.5 | 66 | |||||
| Cork | 19 | 22 | 49.4 | 268 | |||||
| Kilkenny | <5 | 1 | 40.3 | 40 | |||||
| Sligo | <5 | 1 | 36.6 |
