As of Wednesday last, April 15, there were 139 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Laois, according to the HSE figures that are released daily.
The county-by-county data that is released is almost two days behind – the details up to Wednesday at midnight were released on Friday.
While there has been the shocking tragedy in St Fintan’s Hospital in Portlaoise where it has been confirmed that eight patients died from Coronavirus over the Easter weekend, the HSE do not give specific county-by-county details in terms of deaths from the virus.
It is still interesting to look at number of cases in Laois compared to the other 25 counties in the Republic of Ireland.
According to the 2016 Census, Laois is the 18th most populated county in Ireland – or the ninth smallest, whatever way you wish to look at it.
Though the population of the county has grown significantly over the last 15-20 years, only Leitrim, Longford, Carlow, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo, Cavan and Offaly have fewer people.
And, as per the HSE figures, Laois are 18th of the 26 counties both in terms of confirmed cases and confirmed cases relative to the population size.
Our calculations show that there is 16.4 cases per 10,000 people, which is below the national average of 27.35 cases per 10,000 people on Wednesday’s figures.
Dublin has 6,337 cases – considerably the largest of any in the country – and also has the highest number of cases per 10,000 with 48.81.
Two of the smaller counties are next – with Cavan having 45.34 cases per 10,000 and Westmeath 35.97 cases per 10,000.
Wexford has the lowest per 10,000 with 5.08 with Waterford with 8.76 and Roscommon with 9.47.
Of the counties that border Laois, only Carlow have a lower rate with 10.36 cases. Tipperary has 16.83, Kilkenny has 18.06, Offaly has 21.92 and Kildare has 27.96.
The full list of confirmed cases per 10,000 people (as of Wednesday, April 15) is as follows:
- Dublin – 48.81 (cases per 10,000 people)
- Cavan – 45.34
- Westmeath – 35.97
- Louth – 29.91
- Kildare – 27.96
- Monaghan – 27.09
- Wicklow – 26.98
- Donegal – 22.17
- Offaly – 21.92
- Meath – 21.6
- Mayo – 19.86
- Longford – 19.36
- Kilkenny – 18.06
- Limerick – 17.57
- Cork – 17.43
- Kerry – 17.21
- Tipperary – 16.83
- Laois – 16.4
- Leitrim – 14.39
- Clare – 11.46
- Sligo – 10.56
- Carlow – 10.36
- Galway – 10.29
- Roscommon – 9.47
- Waterford – 8.76
- Wexford – 5.08
SEE ALSO – HSE release map that shows where Coronavirus cases are in Laois
