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The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) will meet later to consider its latest recommendations to Government on how best to limit Covid-19 transmission over the Christmas period.

Stephen Donnelly Britain Ireland Health

Seanad passes motion over Covid-19 vaccine waiver

Independent Senator Alice-Mary Higgins introduced a motion in the Seanad calling on the Government to support a TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) waiver on Covid-19 vaccine technology and on the Government to publicly call on the European Commission to do the same.

Regina Doherty Ireland France politics

Warnings over rapid spread of Omicron variant in Northern Ireland

The chief medical officer in Northern Ireland has said he is "more concerned than at any previous point in the pandemic", amid warnings over the rapid spread of Omicron Covid variant.

Ian Young Michael Macbride Ireland regional Coronavirus

GPs can offer booster vaccines to people aged 40 to 49

The Health Service Executive has told GPs that they can offer booster mRNA vaccines to all pregnant women aged 16 years and older, people aged 40-49 years and people aged 16-39 years in descending order by age cohorts.

Ireland Health

FG senator calls for primary schools to close early

A prominent Fine Gael Senator has called for primary schools to shut on Friday.

Paul Murphy Ireland education

Christmas in isolation for Covid cases from tomorrow

People who test positive for Covid-19 from Thursday will have to self-isolate on Christmas Day, according to the Covid advisor for the Irish College of General Practitioners.

Morning Ireland Mary Favier Ireland Coronavirus

Over 65s in France without booster to lose Covid pass

France has started implementing a new tightening of rules in the fight against Covid-19, meaning people aged 65 and over will lose the validity of their health pass unless they have had a third jab.

Emmanuel Macron France World Coronavirus

Covid-19 deaths in United States reach 800,000

The United States has reached 800,000 coronavirus-related deaths, according to a Reuters tally, as the nation braces for a potential surge in infections due to more time spent indoors with colder weather and the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the virus.

Usa state North Dakota World Coronavirus

Clear political desire to avoid Christmas restrictions

A meeting last night between the Government party leaders and leading figures from the National Public Health Emergency Team was described as constructive.

Tony Holohan Philip Nolan Ireland politics

How worried should we be about the Omicron variant?

The Omicron Covid-19 variant has been detected in 77 countries since it was first identified three weeks ago, fueling concerns that its large number of mutations will help it spread faster and evade protection provided by vaccines or prior infection. Scientists await answers to these important questions:

Britain Denmark South Africa World Health

Axing of observation period could ramp up booster rollout

Pharmacies may be able to double the number of booster doses they administer if they could forgo the 15-minute post-vaccine observation period, the Irish Pharmacy Union has said.

Britain Ireland county Union Health

Dutch to close primary schools amid Omicron fears

The Netherlands will shut primary schools next week and extend a night-time lockdown as fears grow over the Omicron coronavirus variant, Prime Minister Mark Rutte has said.

Mark Rutte Netherlands World Europe

Vaccine registration for children aged 5-11 to open soon, says HSE

The HSE has said that registration for the Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 5-11 will open shortly, with priority being placed on children who are more at risk from Covid-19.

Lucy Jessop Ireland Coronavirus

MLAs back mandatory Covid cert regulation for Northern Ireland

MLAs have been told that mandatory Covid certification is for the "overall protection of the people of Northern Ireland" as they backed the regulations.

Robin Swann Ireland regional Coronavirus

No 'silver bullets' to work through pandemic - Ryan

There are no "silver bullets" or perfect answers to working through this pandemic, Dr Mike Ryan, head of the World Health Organisation's Health Emergency Programme, has said.

Mike Ryan Ireland World Coronavirus

HSE asks centres to facilitate boosters after 3 months

The Health Service Executive has said it has asked vaccine centres to facilitate people to get their Covid-19 vaccine booster dose at three months, after their second Covid vaccine.

Ireland Coronavirus

Calls for early closure of schools before Christmas

A professor of immunology at Dublin City University has said it would be sensible to close schools on Friday to give the best chance of limiting the spread of Covid-19 and to ensure schools reopen in January.

Claire Byrne Christine Loscher Ireland city Dublin education

Dozens of Conservative MPs to defy Johnson over Covid passes

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing the biggest rebellion of his premiership, with dozens of Tory MPs set to vote against the latest Covid restrictions.

Boris Johnson Britain World United Kingdom

California reintroduces mask mandate for indoor public spaces

Authorities in California said they were reinstating mask mandates in all indoor public spaces to try to curb the resurgence of Covid-19 in recent weeks.

Mark Ghaly Los Angeles state California county Orange San Francisco county San Diego World Coronavirus

Staff redeployment among plans to increase boosters

Extending opening hours in vaccination centres and increasing the number of vaccinators are among the measures being considered to accelerate the roll-out of Covid-19 booster shots.

Ireland Coronavirus

11% of Covid cases due to Omicron variant - NPHET

The National Public Health Emergency Team estimates that 11% of Covid-19 cases in Ireland are now due to the Omicron variant.

Tony Holohan Ireland Health

Dept of Education announces €62m 'minor works grant' for schools

The Department of Education has announced a €62m Covid-19 funding scheme for schools which aims to assist in improving ventilation and minor school works.

Norma Foley Ireland education

Omicron spreading at 'phenomenal rate' - UK Health Secretary

The Omicron variant of novel coronavirus is spreading at a "phenomenal rate" so people should get an additional dose of the vaccine because double-jabbed people are vulnerable, the UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said today.

Sajid Javid Britain city London World UK

Updated plan to ensure 1.5 million get booster jab by Christmas

A plan for an updated Covid-19 booster programme, is due to be published this week in an effort to ensure 1.5 million people have received a third Covid-19 jab by Christmas.

Simon Harris Ireland Coronavirus

Northern Ireland Covid cert scheme set to become legally enforceable

Northern Ireland's Covid certification scheme is set to become legally enforceable.

Northern Ireland Ireland Coronavirus

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa positive for Covid-19

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has tested positive for Covid-19 and is receiving treatment for mild symptoms, the presidency said in a statement.

Cyril Ramaphosa South Africa city Cape Town World Coronavirus

Pandemic bereaved create glass leaves in memory of loved ones

"The leaf; it's about the four seasons, the cycle of life."

Ireland Coronavirus Memory

UK Covid alert level increased over rapid rise in Omicron cases

The UK Covid Alert Level has been increased from Level 3 to Level 4 "in light of the rapid increase in Omicron cases," the four UK chief medical officers have said in a joint statement.

Britain World UK

'Boost the booster campaign,' says Minister Harris

A senior Government minister has said now was the time to "boost the booster campaign" in relation to Covid-19.

Simon Harris Ireland politics

HSE examining ways to offer boosters to people aged 40-49 by next weekend

The Health Service Executive is examining ways in which the roll-out of the booster vaccination programme could be extended to people aged 40 to 49 by the end of next week.

Ireland Coronavirus

Tougher restrictions 'may be needed' in UK to prevent Omicron spread

Tougher Covid restrictions may be needed to prevent Omicron causing anywhere between 25,000 to 75,000 deaths in England over the next five months, according to scientists advising the British government.

Britain World UK

How will Covid vaccination for children work?

Soon parents and guardians will be invited to register their children aged five to 11 for vaccination against Covid-19.

Ireland Health

Vaccination data targeted in Brazil hacker attack

Brazil's health ministry said its website was hit yesterday by a hacker attack that took several systems down, including one with information about the national immunisation program and another used to issue digital vaccination certificates.

Brazil World

Covid-19 booster shots being administered at walk-in centres this weekend

Walk-in vaccination centres are open around the country this weekend to administer booster doses to healthcare workers and people aged 50 and over.

Britain city Dublin Coronavirus Health

70%-75% protection against Omicron with booster - study

Preliminary data has shown vaccine effectiveness against the Omicron Covid-19 variant "considerably increased" in the early period after a booster dose, providing around 70% to 75% protection against symptomatic infection.

Britain UK Coronavirus

4,115 new Covid-19 cases with 511 people in hospital

The Department of Health has confirmed 4,115 new cases of Covid-19.

Tony Holohan Ireland Health

Dublin Airport Christmas passenger numbers set to be 42% lower than 2019 levels

Dublin Airport said that an estimated 850,000 people are due to travel through the airport this Christmas.

city Dublin business Coronavirus

What is it like to have the Omicron variant?

Peter McGinn was isolating at home when the White House announced that a second confirmed case of the Omicron variant had been detected in the United States.

Jen Psaki Usa state Minnesota county White county York prime time Coronavirus

Slovakia eases Covid rules despite surge in cases

The Slovak government has allowed shops, ski resorts and churches to reopen to those who are vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19, despite having the highest infection rate in the world.

Eu Slovakia World Coronavirus

Passengers arriving from UK advised to take daily antigen tests

Passengers arriving from Britain are being advised by the Government to undertake daily antigen tests for five consecutive days, beginning on the day of arrival.

Tony Holohan Britain Ireland UK

Rio reverses decision to cancel New Year's Eve party

Rio de Janeiro will hold its famed New Year's Eve party after all, Mayor Eduardo Paes announced, five days after cancelling the celebration over concerns about Covid-19.

city Rio De Janeiro Brazil

7 things we learned from the HSE Covid-19 briefing

From recent data showing the disproportionate number of unvaccinated people being admitted to Intensive Care Units for treatment for Covid-19 to plans for further expansion of the vaccination programme, here are seven things we learned from the latest Health Service Executive briefing on Covid-19.

Colm Henry Ireland Coronavirus

UNICEF seeks urgent action to reverse Covid-19 impact on children

UNICEF is warning that Covid-19 is the worst crisis for children the charity has seen in its 75-year history.

World UNICEF

Stormont planning potential extra restrictions for New Year

Stormont officials are planning further Covid-19 restrictions that may be needed when, as expected, the Omicron variant becomes dominant in Northern Ireland early next year.

Michelle Oneill Northern Ireland Paul Givan Britain Ireland

Austria plans 14 as minimum age for vaccine mandate

Austria's planned coronavirus vaccine mandate has a minimum age of 14, Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein has said.

Austria World Europe

Finnish PM apologises for clubbing after Covid exposure

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin has apologised to the public after a photo surfaced of her in a nightclub following her foreign minister testing positive for Covid-19.

county Marin Finland city Sanna, county Marin World Coronavirus

HPSC reports drop in number of Covid-19 outbreaks

The overall number of Covid-19 outbreaks reduced by 12 last week, according to new data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.

Ireland Coronavirus

WHO recommends boosters for certain groups

The World Health Organization's vaccine advisory panel has recommended that people who are immunocompromised or received an inactivated vaccine should receive a booster dose of a Covid-19 shot.

World World Health Organization

United States	Cases: 46 252 513 Deaths: 750 423 Recovered: 0
India	Cases: 34 321 025 Deaths: 459 652 Recovered: 0
Brazil	Cases: 21 835 785 Deaths: 608 235 Recovered: 0
United Kingdom	Cases: 9 215 683 Deaths: 141 607 Recovered: 0
Russia	Cases: 8 494 589 Deaths: 237 619 Recovered: 0

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