Waterford still has the highest incidence rate of Covid-19 in Ireland - according to the latest figures.
Every part of the county has rates higher than the national average.
The incidence rate in Waterford City South is three times the national average of 493 per 100,000 people.
At 1,486, the rate is the highest in the country for the second week running.
334 cases were recorded between October 5th and 19th, a rise of 19% in a week.
Tramore / Waterford City West is also in the top three with the areas only separated by Longford.
251 cases were confirmed, up 31%, with the incidence rate at 1,122.
Every area in Waterford has an infection rate higher than the national average.
1,086 cases were recorded in the county between October 5th and 19th.
Dungarvan (108, - 7%) is the only area where cases have fallen in the last week.
Cases have risen 124% in Lismore (65); 77% in Portlaw / Kilmacthomas (117) and 55% in Waterford City East (211)
There are currently 19 people hospitalised with the virus at University Hospital Waterford.
Three of those people are in intensive care.
The lowest incidence rate in Ireland is in Belmullet in Mayo.
Advice
Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health said:
“We have seen a significant increase in transmission over the course of the last fortnight. We currently have in excess of 500 cases per 100,000 of the population and disease incidence is rising in all age groups and in every part of the country. Vaccines are very safe and effective at protecting against severe infection. I encourage anyone who has still to receive one to come forward and take up the opportunity to do so as soon as possible. However, vaccines do not eliminate transmission of the disease and it is still possible for fully vaccinated people to pick up and transmit Covid-19. It is important that we continue to follow public health advice as we know vaccination alone, even at very high levels of uptake, will not be sufficient to achieve suppression of the disease."
