445 new cases of the virus in Meath over the last 14 days

Public health officials have confirmed a further 591 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland, 30 of them in Meath.

There have been 445 new cases of the virus in the county over the last 14 days.

Meath has the fifth highest infection rate in the country with 228.2 cases per 100,000 of population.

Sadly eight more people with Covid-19 have died in Ireland. Of the deaths reported today, four occurred in March, and four in February.

The median age of those who died was 74 years and the age range was 51 – 94 years.

The total number of Covid-19 cases since the first outbreak of the virus here last year now stands at 237,187.

The number of people who have died has reached 4,713.

As of 8am today, 264 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 62 are in ICU.

As of last Tuesday (30 March), there have been 840,561 doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in Ireland:

603,802 people have received their first dose and 236,759 their second dose.

The rate of infection in Meath is alarmingly high with five of the six local electoral areas above the national average.

In the two weeks to last Monday, Ashbourne has the highest infection rate in the county, with 91 new cases and a rate of 312.9 per 100,000 compared to the national figure of 164.1.

Navan is also very high with 108 new cases and a rate of 309.2.

There were 75 new cases in Laytown/Bettystown where the rate was 219.8. The figures for Kells were 57 new cases and a rate of 175.9 and Ratoath; 56 new cases and a rate of 168.1.

Trim was the only area in the county below the national average with 33 new cases and a rate of 105.1.

Of the cases reported nationally today:

292 are men / 295 are women

72% are under 45 years of age

The median age is 31 years old

288 are in Dublin, 40 in Kildare, 30 in Meath, 28 in Westmeath, 27 in Laois and the remaining 178 cases are spread across 19 other counties.