Author name: oisinkelly

The Taoiseach says proposals on how to make Antigen testing more affordable, but not free, are due to come to cabinet this week. It comes after Pharmacists warned the expenses are low but could begin to add up quickly. During the week NPHET recommended those taking part in risky activities should take the tests twice […]

A public health expert says that anyone with a busy social calendar this festive season should take regular antigen tests. The call comes amid the recent elevated infection rates of the virus here, with 3,805 new confirmed cases in the latest figures from the Department of Health. Dr Paddy Mallon is an infectious diseases physician

The World Health Organisation is calling for countries to stop giving booster Covid vaccines to healthy people. Over-60s and healthcare workers in Ireland are continuing to receive third doses this weekend. But the WHO says boosters should only be given to immunocompromised people, because of a severe lack of vaccines currently available in developing countries.

The country’s 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 has exceeded 1,000 for the first time since late January. The national rate now stands at 1,037 cases per 100,000 people – with Leitrim, Louth and Westmeath the worst affected. The highest number of cases in over 10 months was reported yesterday, with 5,483 new cases reported. Trinity

Transport Infrastructure Ireland has appointed consultants to assess safety along the dual carriageway before Trimreagh between Letterkenny and Manorcunningham. The issue was raised at Letterkenny Milford Municipal District this week by Cllr Donal Coyle, who is asking the council to liaise with TII to secure a crash barrier at the spot. Officials have passed his

Listen to the Main Evening News, Sport Nuacht and Obituaries for Friday November 12th: 

  NPHET is recommending people who frequently go to nightclubs, bars or restaurants take an antigen test twice a week. The Chief Medical Officer has also asked the Government to consider extending the use of Covid-19 certs beyond the hospitality industry. The cabinet will consider their recommendations on Tuesday. Speaking in Galway this afternoon, Taoiseach

  A motion is to come before the Dail next week, calling for urgent support for Donegal’s Ambulance Service. Some ambulance staff are reportedly at burn out from long exhausting shifts while there’s also concern that there’s not enough personnel and resources. The Sinn Fein motion, if passed, would pave the way for a review

  Window visits’ will be making a return to nursing homes on Monday. Visitors must show proof of vaccination or recovery if they wish to visit a resident indoors under new HSE guidance. Sage Advocacy says residents should be given the choice to meet someone who is unvaccinated or not. Executive Director of the organisation

A former Assistant General Manager at Letterkenny University Hospital says it would be despicable and unforgivable if lessons were not learned from the Grace and Brandon cases. Backing calls for the publication of the Brandon Report on today’s Nine til Noon Show, Paddy Rooney said Irish people are very good at condemning the sins of

There are 549 patients with Covid in hospital today – an increase of nearly 20 per cent on this day last week. There have 76 admissions since yesterday, with 49 people have been discharged. Latest figures for Letterkenny University Hospital show a fall of two; there were 12 patients with Covid in the hospital last

Next Monday is the deadline for entries in the Donegal Enterprise Awards. The Donegal Local Enterprise Office says small businesses, sole traders and start-ups faced unimaginable challenges over the past 18 months, and these awards are about celebrating their resilience and brilliance. Applicant businesses must have less than 50 employees and must have been in

The Irish Farmers Association says further cases of highly contagious Avian flu are a ‘grave concern’, after a case was detected in a wild bird in Donegal yesterday. Cases were also detected in Kerry and Offaly, while it was detected in a peregrine falcon in Galway last week. The IFA says the outbreak could have

Donegal County Council is to convene a series of workshops to discuss derelict sites, abandoned homes, dangerous buildings and derelict buildings. The initiative was proposed by Letterkenny Milford Municipal District Cathaoirleach Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh, who says a targeted policy to deal with this could also help make inroads into the shortage of social housing in

Almost one in every 50 people in North Inishowen tested positive for Covid-19 over the course of the two weeks up to last Monday. The Local Electoral Area has the highest 14-day incidence rate in the country – at 1,993 cases per 100,000 people. Manorhamilton in Co Leitrim and Drogheda Urban in Co Louth also

A Foyle MLA says she’s very concerned at reports that pupils attending St. Columb’s College in Derry were approached by anti-vaccine protestors at the school gates this week. Ciara Ferguson says a number of parents contacted her regarding the incident on Wednesday afternoon. She says this must not be allowed happen again………

  There’s increasing pressure on Gardai to allow the Brandon report to be published. The report, involving over 100 cases of abuse perpetrated on intellectually disabled adults in Ard Greine and the Sean O’Hare Unit in Stranorlar was frequently highlighted in the Dail yesterday in tandem with the ‘Grace’ case. ‘Grace’ was allegedly abused and