Increase in Covid testing

The number of people displaying symptoms of Covid and requiring a PCR test in Cavan has risen by more than two thirds in the past week.

The number of tests have shot up from 409 (February 28-March 6), to 684 administered between March 7 and March 13.

In neighbouring Co Monaghan a similar situation has developed but to a lesser degree, rising by less than 10 per cent.

There have been 855 cases of Covid confirmed since the beginning of the month.

Since the start of the month, there has been a steady number of patients admitted to Cavan General who tested positive, with the figure as of Monday last, March 14, sitting at 20.

It's understood that many of the hospital's positive cases are patients who have attended Cavan General with other ailments, with Covid detected after admission.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) was notified of 2,100 new PCR-confirmed cases after the weekend. In addition, on Sunday, March 13, 7,271 people registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal.

Vaccines

The HSE meanwhile informed the Celt that, over the past three weeks, close to 1,000 vaccinations have been administered at the vaccination centre, which remains at the Hotel Kilmore in Cavan Town, with 446 jabs delivered in Monaghan.

"The vaccinated clients were representative of all age cohorts ranging from five years and up."