DONEGAL has been warned to brace itself for a new surge in Covid-19 infections as the first cases of the Delta variant have been reported in the county.
The 14-Day incidence rate per 100,000 population of the disease edged past the 250 mark in Donegal at the weekend (254.4) while a further 63 new cases were reported last Thursday. Over the past two weeks, there have been 405 new cases in Donegal – second only to Dublin.
Buncrana now has the highest 14-day incidence of disease at 608 cases per 100,000 of population while Inishowen’s other local electoral area, Carndonagh, is the third highest with a rate of 489.
It comes as Dr Anthony Breslin, Specialist in Public Health Medicine for the North West, expressed concern at the high number of positive cases in Donegal. He said that rates had increased significantly in Donegal over recent weeks.
Dr Breslin again highlighted the ongoing need to practise hygiene, social distancing and other public-health measures to combat a virus now multiplying at a far greater pace.
“The numbers are increasing unfortunately, particularly in parts of Inishowen and other border areas of East Donegal. We had our first confirmed Delta cases in the east of the Donegal on Friday. Overall, we had 63 new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday and 51 last Monday – the numbers are edging up as people get out and about a bit more,” Dr Breslin said.
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