Interactive map shows Ireland's Covid hotspots as rates of infection accelerate 

There are fears that some parts of Ireland could be heading towards exponential growth of Covid infections. 

Covid infections have increased at a faster rate in Ireland and other parts of Europe in the past week, according to information collated by the Department of Health in the North.

The latest official update shows the number of confirmed cases is doubling at a faster rate in the past week compared to the previous week. The doubling rate is the amount of time it takes for case numbers to double and is used as an indicator of exponential growth.