The BT breakdown of Covid infection rates in today’s Department of Health ‘Dashboard’ has thrown some previously low profile areas into the spotlight.
BT52, which covers much of Coleraine, has the highest rate of infection per 100,000 population at 682. The BT figures are for the seven day period between November 9-15.
The figures come as Causeway Coast and Glens has emerged as a Council area with relatively high infection rates over recent days. In today’s Council breakdown, CC&G is the Local Government District with the highest rate - measured over the seven days of November 10-16 - at 300 per 100,000. That figure suggests that the issue may be concentrated in the Coleraine area.
The next highest BT area, according to today’s figures is BT13, which covers parts or West and North Belfast, where the rate per 100,000 is 524. The third highest, and the last of three BT areas to have an infection rate of more than 500 per 100,000, is BT92 in Fermanagh. The rate in the area, known previously for its very low rates of Covid, is 511.
Regarding hospital bed occupancy, figures in the Dashboard show Covid patients as needing 44 ICU beds, with 35 of those patients ventilated. The figure of 44 is a marginal fall from previous days when it was around 50. The ICU bed occupancy figures apply to November 17 at 11am, according to the Department.
While ICU bed occupancy appears to be falling slightly, general beds used by Covid patients look to be relatively constant. The ‘Five Day Rolling Average’ graph published today shows that on November 14 the figure was 482, down from a recent peak of 484 on November 3. The today figure for ‘Covid Confirmed Inpatients’ was 449.
In terms of hospital capacity, the Dashboard indicates that a number of facilities are currently operating beyond capacity. Figures for November 16 at 9am show five hospitals - the Ulster, South West Acute, the Royal, the Mater and Antrim Area - are running ‘over capacity’.
The total number of ‘Active Covid-19 Care Home Outbreaks’ is 165.
