Coronavirus: Derry and Strabane has highest infection rate in UK

Derry City and Strabane district has the highest Covid-19 infection rate in the UK, according to figures compiled by the BBC relating to the seven days to 4 October.

The new data puts the council area infection rate top for the highest number of cases per 100,000 population.

The BBC's calculations are three days behind to allow time for the data to stabilise.

The figures are not comparable to those recorded by the Department of Health.

It uses a different calculation to measure infection rates.

Derry and Strabane's rate is 582 cases per 100,000 population.

Across Northern Ireland, there were another 923 positive cases recorded on Thursday, with one more death in the past 24 hours.

Derry and Strabane recorded 235 cases - the highest in NI - while Belfast recorded 202.

Using the BBC's methodology to analyse cases, Newry, Mourne and Down council area has the second-highest rate of infection in Northern Ireland with 335 cases per 100,000 population.

Belfast is the third-highest in Northern Ireland with 267 cases, while Mid and East Antrim currently has the lowest infection rate.

Meanwhile, the the chairman of the British Medical Association NI has said hospitals in the north west are already under pressure due to a surge in Covid-19 cases.

Out of the 2,010 cases reported in Derry City and Strabane district council area, 959 were recorded last week.

"It is a complete quantum leap from the first wave," Dr Tom Black said.

The council area was placed under new restrictions last week to help curb the growing number of cases.

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Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle, the Londonderry GP said hospitals admissions were increasing and soon more patients will start requiring intensive care.

"GPs noticed the increase in Covid cases about three weeks ago, a proportion of those cases will isolate at around one to two weeks and become much worse due to the immune reaction.

"Now we are starting to see the increase of people needing to go into hospital and then it is another week or two before those patients start to deteriorate and need intensive care."

Dr Black said "a big fear" among the medical profession is the availability of intensive care beds if cases continue to rise at the current rate.

"We are in a lot of bother and we are going to have to work very hard to get out of this," he said.

"The hope would be that because we are smarter, we have better drugs and because our vulnerable have been shielding throughout this, we won't need as much intensive care capacity.

"But we still have to find that out in real time."

Dr Black advised people who have received a letter about their flu vaccination this year to get vaccinated.

"The last thing we need is a flu epidemic at the same time as a Covid pandemic because you can imagine the demands that will place on the health service," he said.

He advised everyone to continue practicing safe hygiene measures to help limit the spread of infections.

"Keep your distance, wear your mask and wash your hands."