Three cases of Indian viruses confirmed in Kilkenny
There are currently three cases of the Delta variant of the virus in Kilkenny, latest figures reveal.
According to GISAID.org, which tracks Covid-19 variants globally, there is now a total of 260 cases of the Delta and Kappa variants, which both originated in India, of the virus across the country.
The Delta or B16172 is a variant of concern. The Kappa (B16171) is considered a variant of interest by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The vast majority of the cases are in Ireland are found in the two biggest cities: with 132 recorded in Dublin and an 94 in Cork.
The next highest number of cases are in Limerick (6), Westmeath (5), Kerry (4), Kilkenny (3), Tipperary (3), Monaghan (3), Louth (2), Leitrim (2), Waterford (1), Mayo (1), Roscommon (1) and Mayo (1). There are two more cases in unnamed counties in Leinster, according to the latest data.
On Friday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has called for a collective effort from political leaders across Ireland and the UK to tackle new strains of the the virus.
Mr Martin said “all hands on deck” are needed to deal with what he called the “dark cloud on the horizon” of the Delta variant of Covid-19.
