Coronavirus cases surge in ABC area

Coronavirus cases in the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council area are the second highest in the province, according to latest figures.
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According to the Department of Health there were 930 positive tests for the week December 23-29- with only Belfast showing a higher figure (1,009).

The figures also show an increase in the infection rate per 100,000 people - with a rate of 435.2 for the week December 23 to 29, compared to 281.3 the previous week.

For the province as a whole there were 7,100 positive tests in the week December 23-29, compared to 4,271 the previous week.

PACEMAKER BELFAST  04/03/2020 .
Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker PressPACEMAKER BELFAST  04/03/2020 .
Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press
PACEMAKER BELFAST 04/03/2020 . Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press

The virus is most prevalent among those aged 20-39 with 3,014 cases reported provincewide during the week, the ABC council area accounted for 369 cases in that figure (again the second highest in the province).

The ABC council area has the province’s highest infection rate among those aged 40-59 - with 286 cases from a provincewide total on 2,108 cases for December 23-29.

ABC figures for other age groups are as follows: 0-19 - 189 cases (822 provincewide); 60-79 - 137 (937) and 80 and over - 19 (219).

Figures are not currently available for the number of deaths during the week December 23-29. According to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency there were 82 Covid related deaths in the week ending December 18, taking the total for 2020 at that time to 1,649.

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