Ireland has been battling with a surge in coronavirus cases for the past four months, and things finally seem to be plateauing.
We're beginning to see the easing of more restrictions from tomorrow onwards, and the Government have a plan for re-opening dependent on the situation with public health at the time.
Yesterday, there were 420 confirmed cases of Covid-19, and 4 additional deaths.
As of 8am yesterday, there were 183 Covid-19 patients in hospital, of which 50 were in ICU. There was also 7 additional hospitalisations yesterday., which is seeing us go back to the levels of hospitalisations we saw in October 2020.
As of April 15, 2021, 1,155,599 doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland, with 814,470 people having received their first dose, and 341,129 people having received their second dose.
Currently, the national 14 day incidence rate is 131.7- which is still high but it has improved.
Case numbers still seem to be high, but we the weather getting better, the Government seem to be optimistic we are on the right track. to getting back to normal.
What counties are still struggling with Covid-19 numbers, and which still have more to do before life gets back to normal?
Offaly
Offaly is still at the top of the incidence list, with a rate of 211.6, which is still much higher than the national average. Up until the 15th of April, Offaly had 165 new cases and a 5 day moving average of 13, meaning they still have a long way to go before getting the go-ahead of re-opening safely.
Kildare
Kildare is second worst in the country currently, with a 14 day incidence rate of 196.9. As well as that, they've had 438 new cases over the past two weeks and have a 5 day rolling average of 29, meaning that they also have a long way to go to bring their case numbers down to allow for safe re-opening.
Donegal
Donegal has a high incidence rate of 190.3, with 303 cases in the past two weeks. They also have a 5 day rolling average of 29, which is not looking good for the easing of restrictions just yet.
Dublin
Dublin's incidence rate is 181.1, which is still high despite their population size. The capital has seen 2.449 cases in the past two weeks, with a 5 day rolling average of 150.
Laois
The incidence rate in Laois is 160.6, which is still extremely high considering the national average is 131.7. They've had 136 new cases in the past two weeks, with a 5 day rolling average of 9.
Meath
Meath has an incidence rate of 142, which is not too much higher than the national 14 day average. In the past two weeks, Meath has had 277 cases which is still high, but coming down. Their rolling average is 19. If Meath keep working towards bringing the incidence rate and case numbers down, they could reach safe levels.
Cavan
Cavan's incidence rate is lower again, sitting at 137.8. They've had 105 cases in the past two weeks, and are heading in the right direction of getting to re-open when things become safe to do so, with a rolling five day average of 8.
Longford
Longford's incidence rate is 137 currently, which isn't too much more than the average national incidence rate. They have had 56 cases over two weeks, and a rolling average of 3, which means, like Cavan, they're moving in the right direction.
Westmeath
Westmeath are the final county that are higher than the national average, with their incidence sitting at 131.8 They've had 117 new cases in two weeks, with a rolling 5 day average of 6, which means that hopefully soon they'll be under the national average and deemed safe for re-opening.
