Author name: oisinkelly

The head of the HSE says the positivity rate in testing for Covid-19 has declined over the past 8 days, and the number of close contacts has also reduced to an average of 3. Paul Reid says while it’s still very early, the numbers are good news. It comes as the latest figures show 295

A member of the National Public Health Emergency Team says people’s behaviour is changing in relation to Covid-19. It comes as those testing positive for the virus has declined in the last seven days from 8.9 to 5.8 percent. 777 new cases were confirmed yesterday in the Republic, with 20 of those in Donegal. There

The ViraPro recall has been extended to include ALL sanitation products in the range. The company’s hand sanitiser was pulled when tests showed it could cause irritation – and it’s now emerged that other products in the range are not on the government’s ‘approved list’. The Department of Agriculture says it’s extending the recall as

The Dail has been told that Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, and other counties on the Western Seaboard will need targeted supports from government for as long as the current Covid restrictions last. Deputy Marian Harkin told TDs last night that a Central Bank report has found a reliance on SMEs means employment was most affected in

The BreastCheck programme has confirmed it will resume breast screening on Tuesday next, 27 October 2020. A new text management system is in place to maximise appointment uptake, and letters are being sent out first to those who were due to be seen in >arch. The service was paused on 16 March 2020 due to

The family of 27 year old Cian Langelaan is urging people to keep an eye out for him over the holiday weekend. Cian has been missing from the Falcarragh area for almost four weeks, with the last confirmed sighting at Horn Head at the end of September. Cian’s mother Anthea says he could be anywhere………….

The Donegal Road Safety Working Group is urging all road users to stay safe and be seen. The clocks going back this weekend, longer periods of darkness in the mornings and evenings, alongside worsening weather conditions are all said to potentially heighten the risk on the roads. So far this year nine people in Donegal

  Nursing Homes Ireland says we cannot see a repeat of the tragedy in nursing homes early on during the pandemic. The outbreak among the majority of residents at a Galway facility has been described as very disturbing. The HSE says it’s providing support to the care home. Nursing Homes Ireland Chief Executive, Tadhg Daly

  Donegal had almost a third of their labour force in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment at the peak of lockdown in April. Prior to the most recent restrictions, in early October, Donegal has also seen the largest percentage decline in PUP, with large numbers flowing onto wage subsidy supports. Early signs from the

  A Donegal Pharmacist believes there could have been a bigger recruitment and training drive over the summer to ensure healthcare settings had adequate backup resources ahead of the second wave of Covid-19. Margaret O’Doherty, a Pharmacist in Raphoe, was reacting to developments in Galway, where the majority of residents and staff in a nursing

  The Sinn Féin leader says the wealth and prosperity generated by a United Ireland would far outweigh the cost. It comes after the Taoiseach said a border poll would not be on the Government’s agenda for the next five years. Micheál Martin made the comments at the launch of the Shared Island Initiative, which

  It’s anticipated that significant progress will be made with the Mica Redress Scheme in the coming days after ten applications have passed stage one this week. The homeowners in question have received their letter of eligibility to move to stage two with more affected people due to move through the process next week. Homeowners

  Business owners are being warned even if Brexit talks end in a deal, there will still be major disruption. The EU’s Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier and his counterpart Britain’s David Frost resumed talks yesterday. Downing Street says there are still “significant gaps”. Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney is warning tariffs and quotas could

  The Chief Medical Officer says he’s not concerned about the breakdown in the contact tracing system. The HSE asked 2,500  people who tested positive to do their own contact tracing after the system became overwhelmed. A further 1,066 cases were confirmed last night, along with three additional deaths. The national 14 day incidence rate

  A West Tyrone MLA says he believes the A5 can be delivered on time following a speech by the Taoiseach yesterday. In a ‘Shared Island’ presentation, Michael Martin reaffirmed the Irish Government’s commitment to a number of projects including the A5. Daniel McCrossan says this, coupled with assurances he’s had from Minister Nicola Mallon,

  A Midlands-North-West MEP says there’s a lot in the new Common Agricultural Policy that will benefit farmers. CAP has been the focus of debate and division within the European Parliament this week, with MEPs voting on dozens of amendments. Maria Walsh admits it’s a contentious issue, but says there are positives in the package:

It’s emerged that only one nurse and one care assistant have been caring for 27 residents in a nursing home in the west. It’s claimed that 25 out of 27 residents in the home have tested positive for Covid-19, while one of them has died. It was also claimed 7 out of 8 nursing staff