Castlewellan has highest number of Covid-19 infections in province

Castlewellan has highest number of Covid-19 infections in province

7 July 2021

CASTLEWELLAN was revealed as having the highest rate of Covid-19 infections on Monday.

The figures released by the Department of Heath showed the BT31 postcode having an infection rate of 518 per 100,000 people from 49 confirmed cases.

The news comes as hundreds of people took the opportunity to get vaccinated at pop-up clinics in Castlewellan and Newcastle last weekend with the initiative hailed a success by Newry, Mourne and Down Council chairwoman Cathy Mason at Monday night’s monthly meeting.

She revealed that aside from people coming to get tested, 393 attended the Newcastle and Castlewellan area and 402 in Newry to be vaccinated.

“I would like to say a word of thanks for the response in Castlewellan in terms of the mobile testing,” the chairwoman continued.

“It was again a fantastic effort by the council in their supporting role and thanks to hundreds of residents for getting tested and those who availed of the mobile vaccinations.” 

The South Eastern Trust confirmed this week that more local pop-up clinics are planned for August as part of a Northern Ireland-wide drive to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible.  

The Trust is encouraging people to attend the vaccination clinics to help reduce the spread of Covid-19 and to help keep themselves, their friends and family safe.

Last weekend’s clinics were viewed as a response to the confirmation of probable cases of the Delta variant of Covid-19 in the Castlewellan community with asymptomatic people from the area aged between 18 and 40 invited to come forward to be tested. 

Booking is not required for the mobile clinics which will deliver the Moderna vaccine with next month’s clinics delivered from a vaccination bus at Castlewellan Community Centre at Circular Roa on Saturday, August 14, between 11am and 7pm

The following day, the vaccination bus will be at the Newcastle Community Services building located at Park Avenue in the resort, also between 11am and 7pm.

People who attend should bring photographic ID or proof of address and, where possible, a health and care number.