By Michelle Crean 

There's been a surge in the number of confirmed COVID cases in the Killarney area it was revealed this week by NPHET.

Yesterday (Thursday) nationally there was shock at the sharp rise in cases which stood at 994 - a huge increase from 783 reported the previous day. It follows a steady increase over the last number of days across the country.

According to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, 80 COVID-19 patients were hospitalised yesterday, of which 22 are in ICU.

According to a NPHET health briefing on Wednesday, Killarney is not escaping the surge in numbers as it was named as one of 14 towns in the country to have the highest cases in a slide name 'Local areas of high cases in Ireland' - with a seven day incidence rate of 155 cases per 100,000 population.

According to Ireland's COVID-19 Data Hub, Killarney LEA had the highest rate of COVID-19 in the county during the two weeks up to July 5, with 49 cases over that period.

“I was very disappointed to hear NPHET saying Killarney is a COVID hotspot," Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Marie Moloney, told the Killarney Advertiser.

“I urge people to act with caution, follow the guidelines, wash and sanitise their hands, to social distance, for their own safety and the safety of those around them."

Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “The latest data is showing clear increases in incidence of disease right across the country. There is no question that the Delta variant is having a considerable impact of transmission of COVID-19. Delta also appears to be presenting with a different variety of symptoms than we have seen with other variants, including headache, sore throat and blocked or runny nose. If you have any symptoms of a cold or flu it is vital that you isolate immediately and arrange a test.”

Meanwhile, the HSE has advised of revised times for COVID-19 walk-in tests at its centre in Ballymullen Barracks in Tralee.

Walk-in testing without appointment or referral will be available from 9am to 11am, Monday to Saturday; and 2pm to 3pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Outside of these times, testing will only be conducted by appointment which can be booked online at hse.ie or covid19test.healthservice.ie/hse-self-referral/.