Older people living in least deprived areas have been the worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic, new figures have revealed.
The latest stats from the Central Statistics Office further confirm that older people have suffered adversely as a result of Covid-19.
According to the research, it is actually more likely for an older person from a less deprived area to contract the virus.
Of the more than 25,000 confirmed cases in Ireland, 10,997 (43%) of those have been linked to outbreaks.
An outbreak is when two or more cases are confirmed in the same place and time.
More than a quarter (26%) of outbreaks affected those aged 80 years and older with hospitals, nursing homes and residential settings accounting for nearly three-quarters of all cases linked to an outbreak.
Women account for 59% of all cases linked to an outbreak.
Those aged 25-44 age still show the highest number cases at 8,718.
To date, the total number of people who have died from the deadly virus is 1,456, with a further 258 deaths cited as probable deaths linked to the virus.
Sadly, 65% of all to date have been people aged 80 or older.
Interestingly, travel now accounts for just 1% of cases, a stark comparison to a high of 28% back in March.
Unsurprisingly, Dublin is still the worst hit county with 51% of all confirmed Covid-19 deaths.
There was some good news however, as figures show this is the eight week in a row that confirmed cases have fallen.
And there was more good news elsewhere, with this being the sixth week in a row that Clare, Leitrim, Longford, Tipperary, Wexford and Wicklow have recorded less than 10 new cases.
Donegal, Laois and Kerry have recorded less than 10 new cases for seven weeks in a row, while Sligo and Waterford have gone eight weeks with less than 10 cases
Since the week ending April 20, the weekly median age of those contracting the virus has consistently been in the 40s.
But, for cases that needed to be hospitalised, the median age has been more than 60, until the last three weeks where it has dropped to 50.
