The Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area is no longer the area least affected by Covid-19 in Northern Ireland.

It comes as the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) is the only hospital in Northern Ireland to be operating over its bed occupancy at 112.1 per cent.

There are currently 82 Covid-19 in-patients in the Western Trust, with 29 of those at the SWAH compared to 17 in Tuesday's report. There have been 46 admissions and 34 discharges in the past seven days.

In recent days positive cases have jumped in the area, with 133 being recorded by the Department of Health in Wednesday's update bringing the total to 3,538. Ard and North Down is now the least affected area with 3,305 positive cases.

Across Northern Ireland, total positive cases rose to 70,905 following a further 2,143 positive cases reported by the department. 7,100 people have tested positive for the virus in the last seven days.

Breaking down Fermanagh by postal district shows from December 21-27, BT92 has 72 positive cases, BT74 has 63, BT94 has 55 and BT93 has 40.

Fermanagh and Omagh no longer has the highest seven day rate of positive cases, dropping to third with 440.8 per 100k of population behind Derry and Strabane and Mid Ulster. However, there have still been 515 positive cases in the last week compared to 354 from December 16-22.

74 were aged 19 and under; 199 between 20 and 39; 164 between 40 and 59; 62 between 60 and 79 and 16 aged 80 and over.

There were six further deaths recorded in Northern Ireland bringing the total to 1,311. One of those was in the Fermanagh and Omagh area where the death toll is now at 47.

Across the Trusts, there are currently 492 Covid in-patients. The number of ICU Covid-occupied beds stands at 35, with one of those at the SWAH. 24 Covid patients are currently on ventilators.

Confirmed care home outbreaks are currently at 105 - an increase of 19 compared to the previous seven days.

As numbers continue to increase in everything connected to Covid-19 the Health Minister Robin Swann has issued a warning to everyone to keep to the restrictions.

This comes as a significant rise in positive cases is seen, particularly in those aged 20-39.

The Minister said: “We are now familiar with the additional restrictions which came into effect on Boxing Day. Whilst it is challenging, the new restrictions are essential if we are to drive down the positive cases in Northern Ireland.

“We continue to see large numbers of positive cases and deaths on a daily basis and we need a collective effort if we are to turn the tide against this virus. It is well known that Covid-19 poses a significant threat to our elderly population but it can affect anyone and can be transmitted by everyone.”

On November 29, 20-39 year olds accounted for 27.5 per cent of positive cases but that figure has risen to 41.5 per cent.

The Minister said: “The rise in this age group may be linked to behaviour and although young adults may think they are immune to Covid-19, their relatives and loved ones are not. We must all redouble our efforts to push down infection rates. That does not mean some people must make sacrifices and restrict their lives while others do not.

“We can all do this by reducing our contacts and staying at home. If you do have to go out, wear a face covering and wash your hands regularly. Do not be that person who brings Covid-19 home in 2021. Our health service is going to be under severe pressure over the next few weeks, please do not add further to that.”