Mid Ulster outstrips Derry/Strabane as worst affected COVID-19 area but rate locally is as high as in late October

The seven-day rate per 100,000 people in Derry/Strabane remains extremely high at 550.9, however. It has more than doubled in the space of just one week.

Between December 24 and December 30, 830 positive cases were recorded across the Derry and Strabane council area.

The prevalence rate locally has not been as high since late October.

On Thursday Mid Ulster recorded an even higher case rate of 597.2 per 100,000. There were 881 cases there over the same seven day period.

The average rate for the north is 437.3 - also double what it was this time last week.

The daily change in the cumulative number of patients with a positive test in Derry and Strabane between December 29 and December 30 was 159.

In total 8,801 people have now tested positive for the illness in Derry and Strabane.