Funerals have been a major source of transmission of Covid-19 in this region as well as all over the country.
That's according to the Director of Public Health in the Midlands Dr Una Fallon who has issued a joint warning call along with Longford County Council and An Garda Síochána to urge people in the region to take appropriate measures to help limit the spread.
The three state agencies met on Friday to co-ordinate actions to address the increasing levels in Longford in particular and in a statement to Shannonside Northern Sound News, they point to the celebration of social and sporting events as infection points.
Dr Fallon was speaking on The Joe Finnegan Show when she said she was somewhat surprised at the recommendation by NPHET to move the whole country to level 5 restrictions.
But she says decisions are made on the overall picture rather than any one single number.
Dr Fallon said the basic tools of hand washing, keeping our 2 metres social distance and avoiding crowds are key, no matter what restrictions kick in.
And she said that people congregating, particularly at funerals, have been a significant source of transmission.
