As he proposed the motion, which was seconded by Independent councillor William O’Leary, Independent councillor Peter O’Donoghue asked if lives had been saved by the imposition of restrictions, which were announced in a speech by then taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, in March 2020.

The Central Statistics Office is appealing to Cork people to take part in their short, online pulse survey entitled ‘Covid-19 — Our Lives Five Years On’.

The restrictions will take immediate effect and will remain in place until "clinical circumstances allow”, the HSE has said

People in Cork and elsewhere travelled to Dublin to share their personal stories, which will go live on the Care Champions social media pages.

A HSE spokesperson told The Echo: “HSE Public Health Area D (Cork and Kerry) has seen an increase in the number of laboratory-confirmed cases of covid-19 cases over the past four weeks."

As special pay arrangements for long-covid sufferers in the health sector come to an end, a Cork healthcare worker spoke to Concubhar Ó Liatháin about her illness and the hopes new arrangements can now be put in place for people in her situation

A clinical psychologist has described what was happening to healthcare workers who are suffering from various covid related symptoms as “a shocking way to treat people who were treated as heroes by our government at the height of the pandemic”.

The figures were released by the HSE to Labour Party TD Sean Sherlock and candidate for Cork City South East Peter Horgan, along with the figures for Dublin clinics.

It follows data released by the HSE which showed a stark increase in respiratory illness and hospitalisations resulting from them. 

A spokesperson said that the rise in flu and covid infection is very steep, so they are urging the public to attend emergency departments only for major health emergencies

Call comes amid concerns that low vaccine uptake may have a serious impact on public health over the coming weeks and months

East Cork Independent Councillor Liam Quaide was speaking at a meeting of councillors in County Hall where he described the Government’s decision to end covid leave pay from October 31 of this month as a “major injustice”.

The Covid 19 autumn/winter booster vaccine is recommended for people aged 50 and over, while the flu vaccine is recommended for people aged 65 and over, with both vaccines also recommended for health and care workers, anyone who is pregnant, or has a long term health condition.

A spokesperson for the HSE told The Echo that the new variant is “more transmissible than previous circulating variants”. 

Shot In The Arm dives into the covid-19 pandemic, offering an insight into the virus and how it has shaped the course of history.

Speaking in the Dáil, Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central, Thomas Gould, raised the need for a public inquiry into the handling of covid-19 in nursing homes.

Cork Kerry Community Healthcare (CKCH) is also reminding everyone aged 70 or older and those aged five years or older who are immunocompromised, to get their vaccine at walk-in clinics across Cork as part of the Covid-19 Spring Booster programme which will end shortly.

The ‘spring booster’ is for people aged 70 and older, residents of long-term care facilities for older adults, and people aged five and older with a weak immune system.

Dr Karikó, whose work has been credited with turning the tide on the pandemic, will be presented with her Honorary Doctorate during a special ceremony at UCC on Wednesday during World Immunisation Week.

The completion rate of the primary course of vaccination for Covid-19 among five to 11-year-olds in Cork was less than 30% in all but three Local Electoral Areas (LEAs), according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The decision was made following updated public-health advice, which states that Covid-19 testing is no longer necessary.

A group of anti-vaccination protestors were moved on by gardaí at the vaccination centre on North Main Street this afternoon. The group had been protesting outside the building.  They were met by staff and security at the entrance to the HSE premises.

There were 178 Covid-19 cases (PCR) recorded in Cork in the 14 days up to midnight on January 30.

Cork Kerry Community Healthcare (CKCH) has strongly urged anyone who is due a booster, or who is unsure of their vaccine status, to check as soon as possible by contacting HSELive on 1800 700 700.

There were 647 Covid-19 cases (PCR) in Cork in the 14 days up to midnight on January 16

Councillor Liam Quaide raised the issue at a full council meeting in the latter months of 2022 and he received a reply at the first full council meeting of the year from the Department of Social Protection.

Figures released by the CSO show that across the country, rates of uptake for Booster 2 ranged from 8% to 33%, up to the end of November 2022

Dr John Sheehan, of Blackpool Bridge Surgery, has admitted that doctors are finding it challenging to persuade people to attend hospitals for further treatment due to the high numbers of patients being recorded on trolleys in recent weeks.

“This year is different in that it’s the first year in a few years where there’s a very high level of mixing of people and peoples’ immunity, particularly younger children, haven’t been exposed to these before also.” 

Leo Varadkar, who had a scheduled meeting with HSE management on Friday, said overtime should also be used to minimise the suffering and inconvenience to patients

There are now over 60 people hospitalised with Covid-19 in Cork hospitals, a significant increase in the numbers hospitalised with the virus earlier this week.

Nationally, there are 11 people with the virus in ICU. The number of Covid-confirmed patients who are invasively ventilated is five.

A Cork pharmacist has said parents do not need to panic following the death of a Dublin child linked to strep A

There are currently 21 people with the virus hospitalised in Cork

A report focusing on care received in Irish Intensive Care Units in 2020 has revealed that ICU’s continued to provide safe care for patients during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Thirty-one  private consultancies were employed to lobby the European Commission on the pharmaceutical industry’s behalf

The study was conducted by APC Microbiome Ireland, a world-leading SFI research centre based at the university, in conjunction with Cork University Hospital (CUH) and Long Covid Advocacy Ireland.

Nationally, there are 15 people with the virus in ICU, an increase of one since last week.

There has been a total increase of 11 people hospitalised with the virus in the last 10 days.

"Once your confidence has taken a hit it’s very hard to get it back." 

A spokesperson for the hospital this afternoon said the current situation at the Mercy “is reflective of the increase in cases of Covid-19 being experienced in hospitals nationally”.

“The HSE has launched the Winter Flu Vaccine campaign and the flu vaccine is now available as well as the Covid booster."

Adrienne Rodgers, the council’s director of community, culture and placemaking, explained that the Community Response Forum has continued to meet throughout 2022 “as an inter-agency forum focused on the support needs of the most vulnerable families and individuals in our city, and has been meeting fortnightly since March”.

Prof O’Neill said that there will “definitely be a surge” of these respiratory viruses, including Covid-19, but that there “hopefully won’t be a huge increase in hospitalisations because of the vaccination campaign and natural immunity combined”.

This year, there is the option to book an appointment to get a flu and Covid-19 vaccination together at the same appointment.

The payment of up to €1,000 was announced in January, but has so far only been received by HSE health staff.

HSE Clinical Advisor and Group Lead Older Persons Services and Geriatrician SI in Trauma and Orthopaedic at CUH Dr Emer Ahern said preparations are underway for a flu season and what she said will likely be another Covid surge.

Death certificates listed 4.2 conditions on average per person who died from Covid-19

The HSE has urged people not to go to a vaccination centre if they have Covid-19 symptoms, or have been told to isolate. 

There were no Covid-19 deaths in Cork amongst anyone aged below 35 years of age