The Chief Executive of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust has said the level of Covid-19 in the local community is “exceptionally high”.
Addressing a virtual meeting of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust Board, Shane Devlin also said the World Health Organisation (WHO) would classify the virus as “out of control” in the three council areas covered by the Trust.
“There are positive notes but community transmission levels are still exceptionally high here,” said Mr Devlin.
“In the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon area, the peak appears to have been reached three to four weeks ago as it has started to drop, a little.
“However, the number of cases per 100,000 of the population is still in excess of 200.
“I heard yesterday that for the WHO, any transmission rate higher than 50 per 100,000 is what they would classify as out of control.
“It is a positive the numbers are starting to decrease, but it is still over 200 in the ABC area”.
Mr Devlin said it was a similar picture in Mid Ulster and in Newry Mourne and Down.
“In Mid Ulster that figure is still over 250 per 100,000, that is down as well and in Newry Mourne and Down, the figures is still over 100 per 100,000.
“There are positive signs but it is clear their is still an exceptionally high level of COVID-19 within the community.”
