13 in hospital as Derry and Strabane records 487 positive COVID-19 cases in a week, more than Belfast

According to the latest Department of Health data more people in Derry and Strabane (487) tested positive for COVID-19 between September 23 and September 29 than in Belfast (455).

The rolling seven day case rate per 100,000 in the city and district is now a very high 323.2, two and a half times that of Belfast's 133.3, and over three times that of the northern average of 103.6.

Over the past week 13 people have been admitted to local hospitals - 12 to Altnagelvin, and one to the South West Acute Hospital - and at midnight last night there remained thirteen COVID-19 inpatients locally, according to the DoH.

With 1,030 cases Derry and Strabane has now suffered the highest number of confirmed instances of the illness after Belfast (2,920) and Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (1,342).

There have been more positive COVID-19 cases since last Wednesday (455) than there had been between the beginning of the pandemic and Sunday, September 20 (440).

The number of recorded positive cases in Derry and Strabane has more than doubled from 483 last Tuesday, September 22, to 1,030 today - a period of just over one week.

More older people are getting the illness in Derry and Strabane with 32 confirmed positive cases among people aged 60 to 79 and eight positive cases among people aged over 80 between September 23 and 29.

Most cases, however, were in the younger population cohorts: 20-39 (243), 40-59 (126) and 0-19 (78).