Coronavirus Ireland: Local regions with the lowest number of Covid-19 cases

Fourteen local areas in Ireland have been assigned COVID free status, as they have less than five confirmed cases.

Sligo currently has the lowest COVID incidence rate of 12.2 per 100,000 of population, closely followed by Kerry with an incidence rate of 14.2.

Looking forward to the easing of restrictions, Dr Tony Holohan said on Wednesday, "If we can keep cases low and continue to vaccinate as many people as possible, we will find ourselves in a very different risk environment where we can see further easing of measures.

"Our task now is to keep the disease under control by following the basic measures and taking up our vaccine when it is offered to us.

"There are currently 14 local areas with less than 5 confirmed COVID cases. Of these 14 areas, over half are in Munster.

Tommy McGrath, 61, from Ballyfermot, receives his AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccination from Public Health Nurse Deirdre Murphy at the mass vaccination centre in the Helix, DCU, Dublin. (Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

Here is a complete list of local areas that are deemed COVID free.

Belmullet, Mayo

Conamara, North Galway

Ennistimon, Co. Clare

Kilrush, Clare

Corca Dhuibhne, Kerry

Castleisland, Kerry

Kenmare, Kerry

Bantry-west, Cork

Kanturk, Cork

Portlaw-kilmacthomas, Waterford

Castlecomer, Kilkenny

Muinebeag, Carlow

Rosslare, Wexford

Kilmuckridge, Wexford

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health; (Collins Photo Agency)

Although this is good news, Dr Holohan warned on Wednesday that people should remain cautious.

He said: "We have gotten to this point by working together in following the public health advice and reducing the incidence of disease in our communities."

He added: "We need to continue to focus on the measures that we know can protect ourselves and our loved ones from COVID-19 - we can plan to meet friends and family where it is safe to do so, and those who have been vaccinated can have confidence in their vaccine.

"They are now able to get out and about and enjoy the benefits of the vaccine."

The two local regions with the highest 14-day incidence rate are Nenagh, Tipperary, with an incidence rate of 594.2 and Newbridge, Kildare, with a rate of 484.8.

Kildare has now overtaken Donegal as the county with the highest incidence rate, with a rate of 251.7.

However, disease incidence in Kildare has not risen over the past 14 days. Instead, the rate in Donegal has fallen almost six times faster than it has in Kildare.

Minister Stephen Donnelly has praised the strong response to COVID from the local communities in Donegal to reduce their case numbers.

On Wednesday, NPHET announced 8 further deaths and 448 new cases of COVID in Ireland.