“We’ve never had an admission that schools basically have driven this fourth wave."

A Cork primary school principal said his students have been ‘very compliant’ with the public health directive to wear masks for students from third class upwards.

Cork Opera House is 'regrouping' following the announcement that indoor events will be limited to 50 percent capacity until January 9

There are "challenges" in the coming weeks, as efforts to reduce the number of Covid case numbers step up, the Taoiseach has said.

The latest Covid-19 situation facing Ireland will be discussed when the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) meets on Thursday.

The rates for the EWSS have been reduced from yesterday, as part of Government plans to wind the scheme down.

The Taoiseach has said the requirement that primary school children wear masks is not a rule he is “entirely 100% comfortable with”.

Addressing a meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party tonight, Mr Varadkar noted that the situation is "stable or improving slightly".

Government confirmed yesterday evening that the new rules on travel would take effect from Friday.

Walk-in Covid-19 vaccination clinics will take place at Cork City Hall this week. The clinics are offering dose one and two of the Covid-19 vaccine and the booster vaccination for 60 to 69-year-olds and healthcare workers only.

Recent positive cases in Ireland have been reviewed by researchers, with "a number of samples" containing potential markers for the Omicron variant

Both staff and players have tested positive and will quarantine in a hotel in Cape Town.

Mr Horgan said he was shocked to hear Minister Donnelly say subsidising was no longer needed.

The new guidelines were announced on Tuesday as a further 5,471 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed with the Health Protection Surveillance Centre. 

The group testing positive have been moved to a separate quarantine hotel in Cape Town, where the first player who tested positive on Sunday is based.

The Cabinet will meet later to discuss proposed new measures designed to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Cork-based professors have weighed in on how best people can protect themselves from the new variant of Covid-19.On 26 November, the World Health Organisation (WHO) designated the variant B.1.1.529 variant, named Omicron, a variant of concern, on ...

Dr Diarmuid Quinlan warns that patients may experience delays amid Covid-19 surge

The Cabinet will meet on Tuesday and are expected to agree a number of measures, including restrictions on school playdates, birthday parties and school gatherings

Dr Nick Flynn said that while Omicron is “a variant of concern”, that there is much more to still learn about it.

Acting director of public health for the HSE South region, Dr Anne Sheahan, tells Mary Corcoran that Cork hospitals need to be protected

A Government minister has said it is not known if there are any cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus in Ireland.

The UK Health Security Agency confirmed the cases, which are both believed to be connected and linked to travel to southern Africa, after genomic sequencing overnight.

TAXI drivers need to be supported in line with new restrictions and early closing times for the hospitality sector, Sinn Féin TD for Cork South Central Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire has said.

NEW measures to increase substitute availability are welcome but will merely serve as ‘plasters on an open wound’ until such a time as underlying issues are addressed, a Cork principal has warned.

A CORK hotelier estimates his business will lose €40,000 from the cancellation of one Christmas party alone.

GAELCHOLÁISTE Mhuire AG on Cork’s northside has celebrated its past pupils with an art exhibition.

It's understood the National Public Health Emergency Team has recommended the wearing of masks for primary school children from third class upwards.

THERE have been 12 cases of Covid-19 in Cork prison this year. That is according to Department of Justice figures revealed by the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, in response to a parliamentary question lodged by Independent TD Catherine Connolly.

A popular West Cork Christmas event has been cancelled due to concerns regarding Covid-19. The Ballydehob Christmas Craft & Food Fair announced it would not run this year on Facebook, citing Covid concerns as the main reason.

"The school has strict public health measures in place, including ventilation of classrooms, carbon monoxide monitors in several classrooms, and a strict handwashing regime for all students."

The Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine nasal spray vaccine is approved for children aged two to 17 years

THE chief medical officer has warned people against using antigen tests if they have symptoms of Covid-19. Dr Tony Holohan said there are many people who do not understand when antigen tests should be used.

Mr Martin made the comments speaking to reporters at Cork Airport after he officially opened the newly reconstructed runway.

Antigen tests will be made available to the children in a primary school pod, where a child in the pod has had a PCR test that detected Covid-19

A CUH statement tonight confirmed their Hospital Surge Plan was currently being implemented and said this may result in the cancellation of a number of non-urgent procedures.

The hospital said the “increasing number of Covid-19 positive patients admitted to the hospital” is also putting “significant pressure” on services.

Mr Ó Laoghaire is calling for financial supports for taxi drivers, recognising the impact the new restrictions and early closing times will have on their incomes.

There have been no Covid-19 testing appointments available to book online over the last number of days.

Posting on Twitter the Cork politician said he was unfortunately diagnosed with the illness.

CANCELLING plans to socialise in the run-up to Christmas would be a “responsible decision”, the chief medical officer has said. Dr Tony Holohan said there could be 200,000 Covid-19 infections in December, but this could be prevented.

The Government has announced new measures to try to curb the 'surge' in Covid cases - including a midnight closing time for bars and nightclubs, the requirement of vaccine certs for cinemas and theatres, and a return to working from home

A CORK cancer survivor feels she is being ostracised from society after making the decision not to get vaccinated. Catherine Mellerick from Togher is among those who marched in Cork in a recent protest against Covid-19 restrictions.

Leitrim, Waterford, Carlow, Louth, Laois, Longford, Westmeath, Donegal, Cork, and Kerry all have a 14-day-incidence of more than 1,000 per 100,000 cases

A Cork GP has warned the country is facing a long winter with doctors currently seeing high volumes of patients with signs and symptoms of a range of infections, including Covid. Mary Corcoran reports

BUSINESSES in the hospitality sector that do not enforce rules on Covid-19 vaccination passes “do not deserve to remain open”, Minister Michael McGrath has said.

Pat Dermody, who works as a psychotherapist and counsellor supervisor said he and others in the field have been contacted by families affected by rifts as a result of vaccine hesitancy.

Consultant in Emergency Medicine at CUH Professor Conor Deasy said that staff are trying to contend with winter illnesses, cancers, traumas, heart attacks and strokes, as well as Covid-19

Stephen Donnelly said he favoured the introduction of urgent and rapid sanctions for outlets that are not checking patrons for vaccine certification.

As of 8am today, 463 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 76 are in ICU.