The local areas that are now the epicentres of Ireland's Covid-19 cases days out from Christmas

With two weeks to go until Christmas Day, a list of the top ten towns and areas in Ireland with the highest rates of coronavirus has been released.

The Department of Health has shared a new update of the incidence rate in each Local Electoral Area in the country up to December 7.

The 14-day incidence rate of confirmed cases per 100,000 population is one of the key metrics used by health officials to determine the scale of an outbreak in a region.

LEA rate ending December 7 (Gov.ie)

And by that metric, Carndonagh, Co Donegal, is the worst-hit region in Ireland with a Local Electoral Area (LEA) rate of 518.7 per 100,000 population.

Elsewhere, neighbouring Letterkenny has an LEA rate of 322.2, while Claremorris in Mayo has also shown some worrying figures with a rate of 257.9

Here are the top ten Local Electoral Areas for high incidence rates in the two weeks up to December 7.

Carndonagh - 518.7

Letterkenny - 322.2

Claremorris - 257.9

Callan-Thomastown - 232.7

Buncrana - 228

Adare-Rathkeale - 216.5

Longford - 211.9

Muinebeag - 211.1

Ardee - 205.4

Clifford - 200.9

Further information about every particular electoral area around Ireland can be found here.