Author name: oisinkelly

Listen back to the main evening news, sport farming and obituaries here for Thursday January 6th here:   

  There are 23,817 new cases of covid 19. This is the highest figure to date since the outbreak of the pandemic. 941 patients with the virus are in hospital, of which 90 are in ICU. The Department of Health has issued today’s figures.

Updated Digital Covid Certs won’t be required to access services including indoor dining. People who’ve received a booster dose of a covid vaccine will start to receive their updated certs from this afternoon. The updated certs will reflect a person’s booster status. The Department of Health says the process will take a number of days,

  There were more Covid outbreaks linked to schools in the second half of last year than any other public place. New HPSC figures show just over 4,100 outbreaks were recorded from the end of June to the end of December. 514 of them were associated with schools – followed by workplaces at 458. Overall,

The Saolta University Health Care Group has confirmed that it has recently tendered for a new credit management company. The hospital group says it is in line with HSE financial requirements to recoup outstanding patient debt across its facilities, including Letterkenny University Hospital. The use of debt collectors to retrieve unpaid patient fees was suspended

The HSE is asking people to be patient as they work through the large volume of referrals for PCR tests. Nationally, the HSE has vastly increased its testing capacity to respond to the spread of disease – in September, it was providing 100,000 PCR tests per week, but is now providing over 300,000. Clinical referrals

A Foyle MLA is calling for a strengthening of legislation to protect the River Foyle and other waterways. Sinead McLaughlin was speaking after she was told that there have been four prosecutions for pollution on the Northern side of the River Foyle over the last five years, leading to fines totalling just £3,500. Responding to

39 people are waiting on a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital today again. The hospital is the second most overcrowded in the country for the third day in a row this week. 10 patients are waiting on trolleys in the hospital’s Emergency Department while a further 29 are on wards. Elsewhere in the North West,

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney will meet his British counterpart in London later. It’s the first time the two will meet in person since Liz Truss took over Brexit responsibilities. Simon Coveney and Liz Truss have already held a long virtual meeting on Anglo Irish relations but today’s will be the first in person

There’s been a 27% increase in the number of people receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment in Donegal, along with a rise in the number of people claiming enhanced illness benefit. This week 1,936 people claimed the Pandemic Unemployment Payment in Donegal, up from 1,523 on December 21st. However, the figure is still over 10 times

There’s been a jump in the number of patients being treated for Covid-19 at Letterkenny University Hospital. The hospital is currently dealing with 66 infectious cases, the joint second highest figure in the country. That’s up 10 on yesterday’s figure. According to latest figures from the HSE, 5 patients with the virus are in ICU.

A court case arising out of what has been dubbed “Golfgate” is due to begin today. Independent TD Noel Grealish, former Fianna Fáil Senator Donie Cassidy and two hoteliers are accused of breaching a lockdown regulation. In August 2020, the Oireachtas Golf Society held a two-day golfing event in Connemara. Noel Grealish, an Independent TD

Gardaí mounted a checkpoint at Bonagee in Letterkenny today, at the start of roadworks which have proved contentious in recent months. Gardai have confirmed several speeding fines were handed out. On a social media post this evening, they remind motorists that the speed limit in this area in which there are ongoing roadworks is 50kph.

17,656 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed this evening. There has been a total of 5,952 deaths related to COVID-19 notified in Ireland. This includes 40 deaths newly notified in the week since last Wednesday. As of 8am today, 928 people with Covid 19 were in hospital, of which 94 are in ICU. 60 of

People aged 16 to 29 who had their first round of COVID-19 vaccination at least 90 days ago may now book an appointment to get a booster vaccine at the Letterkenny Vaccination Centre.   To book a free appointment for a booster vaccination go to hse.ie and search ‘book booster’ or click here: https://www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/get-the-vaccine/booster-booking/   Appointments are

The whole country will be under a yellow snow and ice warning from tomorrow afternoon. Met Eireann has issued the alert for 4pm Thursday, until 11am Friday. Scattered showers of snow, hail and sleet are on the way, with hazardous conditions expected. Some isolated thunderstorms are also due tomorrow. Meanwhile, Donegal County Council says its

Home STI testing has been extended to Donegal. Anyone aged 17 and over with an address in Donegal can now order an STI test online. By ordering a free kit online, people can complete the samples, return them by free post, and have results quickly and discretely returned to them by text message or phone

Letterkenny University Hospital remains the second most over crowded hospital in the country today. 39 people are waiting on a bed at the hospital according to the INMO’s Trolley Watch report, that’s up three from yesterday. 7 patients are on a trolley in the hospital’s Emergency Department while a further 32 are waiting on wards.

A status yellow ice and temperature warning remains in place across the country this morning. Met Eireann expect widespread frost and icy stretches to impact the country until 10am today. Temperatures are expected to reach as low as minus 3 in many areas.

There’s been a slight drop in the number of infectious cases of Covid-19 at Letterkenny University Hospital. Yesterday, the hospital was dealing with the highest number of patients with Covid in the country at 59. However, latest figures show that has decreased to 56. A total of 884 people with Covid-19 are receiving treatment in

  Community Groups in Donegal are being invited to apply for grants under the latest Communities Activities Fund announced this week by the Department of Rural and Community Affairs. The money, which will be allocated to groups in disadvantaged areas, can cover either capital expenditure or running costs. Minister Heather Humphries launched the fund this

21,302 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed. 884 patients are in hospital with the virus – 90 are in ICU. Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan says the current infection levels are having a major impact on essential services across all sectors. He said – “As one of our key essential services – the

Met Eireann has issued a status yellow weather warning for low temperatures and ice. The warning is in place for the entire country from 7pm this evening until 10am tomorrow. Temperatures are expected to drop as low as minus three degrees, with Met Eireann predicting widespread sharp frost with icy stretches. Donegal County Council says