PEOPLE in Cavan have expressed alarm over a surge in Covid-19 cases in the border county.
It has become one of the worst hit areas in Ireland, with its 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 people surpassing 1,000.
With more than 770 positive cases in two weeks as of Tuesday, it suggests around one in every 100 people in the county has tested positive in the last fortnight.
Cavan was among the border counties moved into Level 4 restrictions in the days before Level 5 measures were introduced yesterday across the whole of the south for six weeks.
Michelle Duffy Rudden, of the Cavan Chamber of Commerce, said the rise in cases is "very worrying".
"People are fearful for the health and safety of those around them and also for their job security."
She said businesses have experienced a "huge drop in footfall" and urged people moving to online shopping to "seek out local suppliers".
"We've launched a campaign called #loveCavan and lovecavan.ie to make this even easier for people," she added.
Ms Duffy Rudden also urged people to follow the coronavirus safety guidelines.
"Everyone is staying hopeful that a tight-knit community like ours will pull through together."
Sinn Féin TD Pauline Tully said she has spoken to GPs who are "totally overwhelmed".
She believed the "surge started in the aftermath of a couple of GAA finals" as significant gatherings celebrated in local pubs, but said it was not the only possible cause.
The Cavan-Monaghan representative said an all-island approach to Covid-19 "would be ideal", but also called for increased hospital capacity and improved contact tracing.
Fianna Fáil councillor John Paul Feeley said: "There have been issues with coronavirus form the start in Cavan, in terms of a cluster at the hospital, incidents at a number of meat factories in the county, and in more recent times a number of outbreaks in the community."
The solicitor, who is based in the border village of Blacklion in the west of the county, encouraged people to follow the regulations but warned that the virus will continue to be an issue for some time.
"There is no fooling ourselves to think that we are going to have a normal Christmas," he said.
"There are still going to be restrictions in place and a need to minimise social interaction after six weeks' time."
Fine Gael Senator Joe O'Reilly, who represents the Cavan-Monaghan constituency, also said he was "deeply concerned" and urged people to follow the public health restrictions.
"The people of Cavan are resilient, and I believe they know what they have to do to keep themselves, their families and their communities safe from this dreadful disease," he said.
