Author name: oisinkelly

The requirement for Covid-19 passports in restaurants and bars comes into effect in Northern Ireland today. However unlicensed premises, such as coffee shops and cafes, will not have to enforce vaccine passports. Hospitality venues in the North will be required to ask customers for proof of vaccination, or a negative test result. It begins today,

The World Health Organisation says it’s not yet clear whether infection with Omicron causes more severe disease compared to other variants, including Delta. It says preliminary data suggests there are increasing rates of hospitalisation in South Africa. However, this may be due to increasing overall numbers of people becoming infected, rather than a result of

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service is warning waiting times have trebled, as the North’s health service continues to be under severe pressure due to Covid. Some patients are waiting up to six hours to be admitted to a hospital. Figures show that the incidence rate of the virus has risen from 420 cases per 100,000

A new poll has revealed that 6 out of 10 people in the Republic would opt for a United Ireland if a vote was held today. The Red C poll in the Business Post today has revealed that while 60 percent of people would like to see the 32 counties united, only 40 percent would

  Reports claim that the Government’s revised 100 percent Mica redress scheme will be capped at a cost of €420,000 per home, according to today’s Business Post. The Business Post report also states that the Government believes their revised scheme will come at a cost of €2.2 billion – but it is unclear if that

The Department of Health has reported an additional 4,791 cases of Covid 19 today. There’s currently 536 patients in hospital, a drop of 35 on yesterday’s figures. While 118 patients are receiving treatment in ICU, there’s no change on yesterday’s figure.

  As many as 680 homes in the east of Donegal are without power this afternoon, following the effects of Storm Arwen, with high winds last night causing havoc across the county. The ESB say the fault is set to be fixed by 4:30pm this afternoon – but will leave many homes without power for

Gardaí at Milford Garda Station are warning of three oil spillages in the west of the county this afternoon. Motorists are advised to take caution, with at least three separate spillages on roads – one at the Bunbeg Junction near the Cuirt Hotel, and another located at Upper Dore, on the road heading towards Crolly.

  Hundreds of people in County Donegal are still without power this morning, following high winds last night as a result of Storm Arwen. According to the ESB, the biggest outage is currently in the Dungloe area, with almost 500 homes affected there – power is expected to be restored in the Dungloe area by

Gardai in Donegal are urging people to drive carefully in the stormy weather this evening. A number of motorists were stopped and issued with fines and penalty points by members of the Letterkenny Roads Policing Unit today. In a social media post this evening, gardai say with a wind warning in place until 6am tomorrow

4,620 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed this evening. 571 patients are in hospital with the virus, with 118 in intensive care. Latest figures for Letterkenny University Hospital show there were 15 Covid infected patients being treated there, one of them in intensive care. Northern Ireland has recorded over 2,000 cases of Covid-19, for

The Agriculture Minister has announced the commencement of advance payments under Year 5 of the Sheep Welfare Scheme. Almost €16 million is now being paid to some 18,000 farmers participating in the Sheep Welfare Scheme. In a statement Minister Charlie McConalogue says these payments reflect the change to the reference year, bringing it to the

  NIAC has given the green light to roll-out booster vaccinations to everyone over the age of 16. People will still have to wait 5 months after their second dose of the initial vaccine course. NIAC has approved the use of booster vaccines for almost everyone. They will be rolled out with pregnant women given

  Letterkenny University Hospital is the most overcrowded hospital nationwide yet again today. 45 people were awaiting admission there this morning with eight on trolleys in its Emergency Department while a further 37 were waiting on wards. It is a drop of 13 on yesterday’s figure of 58. Nationally, 259 admitted patients were waiting for

  Walk-in booster vaccination clinics will be available for healthcare works and those aged 60 to 69 in Letterkenny this weekend. The booster jabs will be administered to those in this cohort who have reached an interval of at least 152 days since their second dose vaccine. The Letterkenny Vaccination Centre on the Kilmacrennan Road

  High level talks aimed at resolving a row over the Northern Ireland Protocol are set to resume later. Maros Sefcovic is in London to meet with his UK counterpart David Frost. Both sides remain at odds over how goods travelling between Britain and the north are checked.

Police are becoming increasingly concerned for the welfare of a missing teenager from Derry.  Aimee Kee went missing from the area of Crawford Square in the city at around about 08:30am yesterday morning. The 15 year old is being described as having long dark hair and was wearing a St Mary’s uniform with doc Martin

  Children over the age of nine are to be asked to wear masks in school, in shops and on public transport. NPHET has also advised against indoor community gatherings for under 12s. NPHET has recommended against sleepovers, indoor playdates, pantos, nativity plays and communions for the under twelves for at least the next two