Munster's virus-free areas double but Tipperary retains high infection rate

Bandon-Kinsale and Bantry in Cork are among Munster's virus-free LEAs. Picture Denis Minihane.

The number of Covid-free areas in Munster has doubled in the past week, new data on infection rates show. 

The news comes as this week, the number of patients being treated for Covid-19 in hospital fell to the lowest levels seen since December, as health officials expressed hope that infection rates were moving in the right direction.