The Castlederg area appears to be experiencing a surge in Coronavirus cases, according to latest data.
The Department of Health’s December 1 Covid ‘Dashboard’ shows a rate of infection for the BT81 postcode of 394.4 per 100,000 population.
That rate is significantly in excess of any other postcode area in Northern Ireland with the exception of the anomaly of BT3. The postcode covers the Duncrue area where there is a tiny population. It has a rate of 352.9 per 100,000.
The next highest rate of infection, at 272.2 per 100,000, is in the BT42 postcode around the Ballymena, Cullybackey, Ahoghill area.
The Dashboard postcode map is colour-coded with the darkest shade of green indicating a zone with a rate of infection of 300-399 per 100,000. Other than BT3, BT81 is the only area in this highest bracket.
The Council area which Castlederg sits in, Derry City and Strabane District Council, has seen a fall in its infection rate over the last fortnight. The Council area’s overall rate of infection is marginally more than half that of today’s figures for Castlederg.
According to a breakdown of ‘Local Government Districts’, Derry City and Strabane had an infection rate of 205.7 per 100,000 over the seven day period Nov. 24-30. During the pervious seven days, Nov. 17-23 the rate was 211.7 per 100,000.
