# Coronavirus

UK's Covid infections hit record high as free tests end

Some 4.9 million people in the UK are estimated to have had Covid-19 in the week ending 26 March.

24.8k

Apr 1st 2022, 5:50 PM

Health Minister rules out reintroducing 'draconian' mandatory mask-wearing

Stephen Donnelly said that Ireland has moved away from the emergency phase of the pandemic.

18.2k

Apr 1st 2022, 3:25 PM

CMO doesn't advise for mandatory mask-wearing, as Tánaiste says public health emergency is over

Hospitals have been under serious pressure in the latest surge – with the worst March overcrowding for at least 16 years.

63.3k

Updated

Mar 31st 2022, 10:30 PM

# Survey

One in four Irish people said they have tested positive to Covid-19

Public health officials announced 11,741 new Covid-19 infections today.

33.5k

Updated

Mar 31st 2022, 7:10 PM

# coronavirus newsletter

'Stronger mask advice wouldn't end this Covid wave, but would help slow it down'

Christine Loscher said strong new public health advice on masks would help ease pressure on hospitals.

9.6k

Mar 31st 2022, 4:30 PM

# China

Top Shanghai official admits Covid response lacking as city grinds to halt

The megacity of 25 million has been split in two as part of a rolling lockdown.

6.0k

Mar 31st 2022, 2:06 PM

Coronavirus: 12,508 new cases and 1,610 patients in hospital, including 49 in ICU

There were 5,381 PCR-confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, and 7,127 positive antigens logged yesterday.

14.4k

Mar 30th 2022, 3:46 PM

# emergency powers

Covid-19 powers allowing Government to impose legal restrictions to be let lapse tomorrow

However, healthcare workers are warning that a surge in Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations is pressuring on the sector.

15.7k

Mar 30th 2022, 3:34 PM

No Covid-19 discussion at Cabinet as health minister says public health advice has not changed

Public health officials today announced 14,549 new Covid-19 infections.

39.0k

Updated

Mar 29th 2022, 7:35 PM

Coronavirus: 14,549 new cases and 1,605 patients in hospital, including 50 in ICU

A total of 8,587 people registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal yesterday.

13.5k

Mar 29th 2022, 3:04 PM

# Partygate

Police to issue Covid-19 fines against people who attended lockdown parties at Downing Street

The Metropolitan Police said investigators will refer the 20 fixed penalty notices to the ACRO Criminal Records Office.

12.4k

Mar 29th 2022, 9:54 AM

Nearly 40,000 Covid cases recorded in three days as HSE boss issues hospitals warning

Hospital cases indicate Ireland is “entering something” rather than “exiting”, HSE boss Paul Reid said today.

40.9k

Updated

Mar 28th 2022, 3:28 PM

# Covid wave

19,866 new Covid cases reported as consultants warn hospitals face increased pressure

As of 8am today, 1,466 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of whom 55 are in ICU.

28.7k

Updated

Mar 25th 2022, 4:33 PM

Taoiseach says there is no justification for further Covid restrictions

Public health officials today reported a total of 23,125 cases of Covid-19.

40.4k

Mar 24th 2022, 5:20 PM

# Hospitals

Pressure on Emergency Departments 'worst since Covid-19 pandemic began', consultant says

Covid-19 cases in hospital are up 29% in the last week.

As of yesterday, there were 1,395 Covid-positive patients in hospital, with 55 in intensive care.

More than 5,200 staff are currently absent due to Covid-19, the HSE's Anne O'Connor said.

24.7k

Updated

Mar 24th 2022, 12:37 PM

# exit wave

Virologist: 'Free mass antigen testing could help break this wave of Covid'

Both case numbers and the number of people requiring hospital treatment with the virus are rising, but no action has yet been taken by government.

33.1k

Mar 23rd 2022, 8:00 PM

Varadkar: new group to replace NPHET 'imminent' as 21,789 Covid-19 cases reported

The latest figures were confirmed by the Department of Health this afternoon.

50.0k

Mar 23rd 2022, 4:51 PM

New Zealand announces end of Covid-19 mandates

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made the announcement today.

17.2k

Mar 23rd 2022, 7:02 AM

Midwest hospitals impose visiting bans due to 'very high' number of Covid patients

Visiting bans are in place at University Hospital Limerick and at Nenagh General Hospital.

18.7k

Mar 22nd 2022, 8:00 PM

Coronavirus: 23,702 new cases and 1,338 patients in hospital, including 61 in ICU

The latest figures were confirmed by the Department of Health this afternoon.

39.1k

Mar 22nd 2022, 3:48 PM

Ireland among European countries that lifted Covid measures too 'brutally', WHO says

WHO Europe director Hans Kluge said a rise in cases of the virus in Europe is likely due to the more transmissible BA2 variant.

33.7k

Mar 22nd 2022, 3:18 PM

President Higgins is holding a Covid remembrance ceremony at Áras an Uachtaráin today

An oak tree will be planted as a lasting memorial to victims of the pandemic.

10.1k

Mar 20th 2022, 8:30 AM

Covid deaths hit new daily high in South Korea amid surge in Omicron cases

The 429 deaths reported in the latest 24 hours were nearly 140 more than the previous one-day record.

14.3k

Mar 17th 2022, 12:32 PM

Coronavirus: 14,096 new cases and 1,081 patients in hospital, including 44 in ICU

As of 8am today, there are 1,081 Covid-19 patients in hospital.

25.2k

Mar 16th 2022, 6:14 PM

Hong Kong morgues running out of space amid Omicron surge

The city has recorded nearly a million infections and more than 4,600 deaths in the last three months.

16.4k

Mar 16th 2022, 2:32 PM

# covid figures

Coronavirus: 16,019 new cases and 1,047 patients in hospital, including 42 in ICU

The latest figures were released by health officials today.

32.6k

Mar 15th 2022, 5:13 PM

# Lockdown

Nearly 30 million people under lockdown in China as Covid-19 cases surge

China reported 5,280 new Covid-19 cases yesterday, more than double the previous day’s tally.

32.2k

Mar 15th 2022, 7:00 AM

Coronavirus: 11,975 new PCR confirmed-cases and 19,915 positive antigen tests reported since Friday

The HPSC said the PCR positive tests from yesterday are “artificially low” due to a technical issue.

42.8k

Mar 14th 2022, 3:41 PM

# daily cases

Coronavirus: 15,938 new cases and 907 patients in hospital, including 37 in ICU

The figures were confirmed by the Department of Health this afternoon.

34.7k

Mar 11th 2022, 3:45 PM

# China

China locks down city of nine million amid new spike in Covid-19 cases

China reported another 397 cases of local transmission nationwide on Friday.

15.9k

Mar 11th 2022, 2:54 PM

# Simon Harris

Simon Harris has tested positive for Covid-19

The higher education minister confirmed in an Instagram post that he had tested positive on an antigen test.

24.4k

Mar 11th 2022, 11:21 AM

# Death Toll

Global Covid death toll ‘may be more than three times higher than recorded’

Researchers estimate more than 18.2 million people may have died because of the pandemic by the end of December last year.

8.1k

Mar 11th 2022, 10:16 AM