A number of local government areas in Northern Ireland continue to show significant increases in their rates of infection.
Positive tests for Covid have increased by around double in many areas, according to statistics released via the Department of Health’s daily ‘Dashboard’.
The figures are in line with warnings issued on Wednesday by Stormont Chief Scientific Adviser, Prof. Ian Young who said the number of people testing positive over the course of the last seven days has been around 8%, rising to as high as 12%.
He also said the number of people in hospital due to Covid is doubling every seven to eight days and will be at ‘first wave’ levels in around two to three weeks.
The Professor said experts are “continuing to see differences” in the rates of Covid in different parts of Northern Ireland.
He said Derry and Strabane remain their “greatest concern”, but that numbers in Belfast and Mid Ulster are also worrying. Newry, Mourne and Down is also experiencing a “large number of cases”, he said, but added that the area “may be showing signs of stabilising in the last two or three days”.
The daily Dashboard figures measure the rates of positive cases in terms of positive tests per 100,000 population over a seven day period. That number when compared to the previous seven days is showing increases of around double or more in many areas.
The figures show the current rate of infection for the period September 30 to October 6 as well as the previous seven day period of September 23 to 29.
The statistics show:
Antrim and Newtownabbey 143.7 compared to 57.5 in the previous seven days.
Ards and North Down 87.6 compared to 41 in the previous seven days.
Armagh Banbridge and Craigavon 136.2 compared to 62.2 in the previous seven days.
Belfast 317.7 compared to 138.6 in the prevuious seven days.
Causeway Coast & Glens 115.8 compared to 63.8 in the previous seven days.
Derry and Strabane 636.5 compared to 341.1 in the previous seven days.
Fermanagh and Omagh 157.5 compared to 67.6 in the previous seven days.
Lisburn and Castlereagh 145.3 compared to 61.3 in the previous seven days.
Mid and East Antrim 53.4 compared to 28.1 in the previous seven days.
Mid Ulster 231.8 compared to 141.7 in the previous seven days.
Newry Mourne Down 338 compared to 134.3 in the previous seven days.
