rte.ie Main News

More than 130 civil society groups largely from developing countries are calling on the World Trade Organization (WTO) to cancel a ministerial conference next week and instead concentrate on approving an intellectual property waiver for Covid-19 vaccines.

Deborah James World Coronavirus

TD 'appalled' by people not wearing masks on trains

Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe said he was "appalled" to see many people not wearing masks when he was on the train recently.

David Cullinane Ireland politics

Expert says 'previously healthy people' aged in their 30s are dying with virus weekly

A Professor of Anaesthesia and Consultant in Critical Care at Beaumont Hospital has said previously healthy people aged in their 30s are dying each week with Covid-19.

Ireland Coronavirus

Swabbing on the frontline: 'We are doing the best we can'

Just after 11am is when queues are at their longest at the Citywest Covid-19 swabbing centre in Dublin.

Ireland city Dublin Coronavirus

EU health agency calls for 'urgent' Covid measures

The European Union health agency has called on member states to "urgently" introduce measures to reduce the potentially "very high burden" from Covid-19 in December and January.

Andrea Ammon Eu Norway Iceland World Europe

NPHET to examine new data on Covid tomorrow

The Deputy Chief Medical Officer has said that if there is a further disimprovement in the trajectory of Covid-19, then NPHET will have to make recommendations to address those concerns.

Ronan Glynn Ireland Health

Restrictions and costs put rinks on ice this Christmas

Insurance costs and Covid-19 restrictions mean there are fewer ice-skating rinks around the country as the Christmas season gears up.

Ireland county Island city Dublin city Blanchardstown business

Antigen testing in schools to begin next Monday - Foley

The Minister for Education has confirmed that antigen testing in schools will come into effect from next Monday 29 November, and that all guidance will be made available to schools and parents this week.

Norma Foley Ireland education

No Covid-19 PCR tests available in ten counties

There are no Covid-19 PCR tests available in ten counties, according to the Health Service Executive's portal this morning.

Damien Maccallion Ireland city Dublin county Wexford Health

Covid outbreak among cult members in South Korea

A little known sect led by a pastor who pokes eyes to heal is at the centre of a Covid-19 outbreak in South Korea, as the country reported a new daily record of 4,116 cases and battles a spike in serious cases straining hospitals.

South Korea city Seoul World Coronavirus

New Zealand sets date for reopening to tourists after nearly two years

New Zealand will keep its borders closed to most international travellers for a further five months, the government said, outlining a cautious easing of coronavirus border curbs that have been in place for nearly two years.

Chris Hipkins New Zealand World

Mandatory vaccination only when 'no other choice' - WHO's Mike Ryan

Dr Mike Ryan likes to use a metaphor to make his point. Earlier this year, he compared booster jabs to handing out life jackets to those who already have one. The WHO Executive Director has now turned to geography to illustrate his perspective.

Mike Ryan Ireland Coronavirus

New measures to help alleviate shortage of teachers

The Department of Education has announced additional measures to help increase the availability of substitute teachers.

Norma Foley education Coronavirus

Dozens turned away after receiving text for booster jab

The HSE has apologised after 41 people under the age of 60 were incorrectly called in for a booster jab.

Ireland Coronavirus

Expert says 'previously healthy people' aged in their 30s are dying with virus weekly

A Professor of Anaesthesia and Consultant in Critical Care at Beaumont Hospital has said previously healthy people aged in their 30s are dying each week with Covid-19.

Ireland Munster

Entertainment sector calls for introduction of supports

A spokesperson for the Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland has appealed directly to the Taoiseach to intervene and introduce supports for the industry.

Ireland politics

'Positive' meeting on greater role for student teachers in schools

A meeting has taken place between Minister for Education Norma Foley and teacher education colleges on a proposal that final-year students training to be teachers play a greater role in supporting schools during the staffing crisis.

Ireland city Dublin Jordan education

NPHET not expecting to recommend more restrictions this week

The Chief Medical Officer has indicated to Opposition TDs that he does not expect the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) to recommend further restrictions this week.

Tony Holohan Ireland Health

GPs urge HSE to open walk-in PCR test centres as demand increases

The Health Service Executive has been urged to open up walk-in PCR test centres, following increased demands for the service.

Claire Byrne Ireland city Dublin Coronavirus

Dutch Covid-19 patients transferred to Germany as hospitals struggle

The Netherlands has started transporting Covid-19 patients across the border to Germany to ease pressure on Dutch hospitals struggling to deal with a surge in coronavirus cases.

Germany Netherlands city Rotterdam World Europe

EU's 'anti-postal' rules costing An Post €8m this year

The chief executive of An Post has said that EU customs rules are "anti-postal" and have caused delays in moving parcels from the UK into Ireland at an indirect cost to the company of up to €8m this year.

An Post Britain Ireland Eu business Brexit

Stormont agrees measures to bolster Covid rules

Ministers in Northern Ireland have agreed a series of new measures aimed at bolstering adherence to Covid rules.

Robin Swann Northern Ireland Ireland

Fresh arrests in fourth night of Dutch Covid unrest

Dutch police said they had arrested at least 21 people during a fourth night of unrest over coronavirus measures, although the situation had calmed down.

Mark Rutte Netherlands World Europe

Israel vaccinates children as young as five against Covid

Israel has begun rolling out Covid-19 vaccines for children aged five to 11, becoming one of a handful of countries to inoculate children so young as it seeks to ward off another pandemic wave.

Naftali Bennett Israel World Coronavirus FIVE

Plans for cheaper Covid antigen tests being finalised

Plans to provide cheaper antigen tests are still being finalised today as discussions on the matter continued last night.

Ireland politics

60% of people reduced social contacts in past week - survey

Some 60% of people say they have reduced their social contacts over the last week, a poll carried out by Amárach Research for Claire Byrne Live has found.

Tony Holohan Ireland Coronavirus

Hair and beauty sector calls for continued customer compliance

The Hair and Beauty Industry Confederation (HABIC) has called for customers to continue to adhere to public health guidelines, as the industry enters one of the busiest periods of the year.

business Coronavirus

Ibec calls for extension of EWSS beyond April 2022

Employers' group Ibec has written to the Government asking it to extend the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme beyond April 2022 at the rates that applied during previous waves of Covid-19.

business Coronavirus

Vaccine 100% effective in teenagers after 4 months - Pfizer

Pfizer and BioNTech said their Covid-19 vaccine remained 100% effective in children 12 to 15 years old, four months after the second dose.

Albert Bourla Usa World Health

Minister to hold meeting over student teachers subbing

The Minister for Education Norma Foley will meet senior officials from the country's teacher education colleges tomorrow with a view to establishing whether final-year students training to be teachers can play a greater role in supporting schools during the current schools’ staffing crisis.

Ireland education

Dáil Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Feargháil tests positive for Covid-19

The Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil has tested positive for Covid-19.

Ireland politics

ICU beds are "pinch point" for transplant surgeries

The Director of Organ Donation and Transplants Ireland Professor Jim Egan has described as "very unprecedented" the cancellation of an organ transplant surgery in the past two weeks at the Mater Hospital, but said ICU bed capacity was the "pinch point".

Ireland Coronavirus Health

World must bolster WHO and agree pandemic treaty, expert panel says

The World Health Organization (WHO) must be strengthened with more funding and greater ability to investigate pandemics through a new treaty, an independent panel has said, ahead of a conference of health ministers next week.

Helen Clark Ellen Johnson Sirleaf New Zealand Liberia World World Health Organization

Hospitals cancelling, postponing procedures due to Covid - ICU doctor

The Dean of the joint faculty of intensive care at St Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin has said critical care is approaching saturation point across the State.

Ireland city Dublin Health

New Zealand to end tough Covid restrictions

New Zealand will adopt a new system of living with the coronavirus from 3 December, which will end tough restrictions and allow businesses to operate in its biggest city, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said.

Jacinda Ardern New Zealand city Auckland World Coronavirus

Austria back in Covid lockdown as Europe battles virus surge

Austria has shut shops, restaurants and festive markets ahead of the Christmas holidays and returned to lockdown in the most dramatic Covid-19 restriction seen in Western Europe for months.

Austria Vatican World

Ministers to discuss specific Covid supports for hospitality sector

Senior Government ministers will meet later today to discuss the introduction of specific measures to support the hospitality sector.

Ireland politics

INTO calls for review over 'soaring' Covid transmission in primary schools

The trade union representing primary school teachers has called for an immediate review of measures to address what it says are soaring transmission levels in the sector following the removal of public health supports in late September.

John Boyle Ireland Coronavirus

Prisons see jump in Covid-19 as outbreaks identified

A total of 71 positive cases of Covid-19 have been identified in three prisons where outbreaks have occurred, according to the Irish Prison Service.

Ireland Coronavirus

Mater Hospital took 'unprecedented' decision to cancel transplant surgery

The Mater University Hospital in Dublin has said it had to take "the unprecedented decision to cancel a transplant surgery" this week, due to a shortage of beds in its Intensive Care Unit.

Ireland city Dublin Health

NPHET concerned over incorrect use of antigen tests

The National Public Health Emergency Team has "legitimate concerns" that antigen tests are not being used appropriately, according to NPHET member Professor Philip Nolan.

Philip Nolan Ireland Coronavirus

Future Covid lockdowns 'not inevitable' - Coveney

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, has said future lockdowns are not inevitable but a national effort is required to slow the spread of the virus.

Simon Coveney Ireland politics

Thousands rally against Covid-19 vaccinations in Australia

Thousands of protesters decrying Covid-19 vaccinations gathered in cities around Australia today as smaller counter-rallies supporting health measures also marched.

Daniel Andrews Australia city Melbourne World Coronavirus

Chief Medical Officer says 'small changes' needed to tackle Covid surge

The Chief Medical Officer has warned that the current level of Covid-19 is placing an enormous burden on the entire health system.

Tony Holohan Ireland Coronavirus

Government to proceed with subsidised antigen tests despite CMO warning

The Government is to go ahead with a plan to provide subsidised antigen tests despite renewed warnings against the move by the Chief Medical Officer.

Tony Holohan Stephen Donnelly Ireland Coronavirus

Public demand for new restrictions increasing - ESRI

Public opinion has "swung hugely" towards wanting the Government to introduce rules and restrictions, according to the head of the ESRI's Behavioural Research Unit.

Pete Lunn Ireland Coronavirus

Top Italian scientist backs Holohan on antigen tests

Since August, Italy has required Digital Covid Certs to access indoor dining or cultural venues.

Tony Holohan Italy Ireland prime time Coronavirus

Thousands rally against Covid-19 vaccinations in Australia

Thousands of protesters decrying Covid-19 vaccinations gathered in cities around Australia today as smaller counter-rallies supporting health measures also marched.

Daniel Andrews Australia city Melbourne World Coronavirus

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

rte.ie Main News

Related News