# omicron

This year

2023

We need to talk about the 'Kraken' variant: What is it, and do we know what impact it could have?

XBB.1.5 is uniquely good at breaking the ‘door’ to the human body, but it’s not clear how much of a surge in cases it could cause.

30.1k

Jan 14th 2023, 9:00 AM

Last year

2022

# covid-19 vaccine

EU backs new Omicron vaccines for first jabs, and not just for boosters

The vaccines are currently only authorised as boosters but could now be used for people’s first vaccinations.

10.1k

Dec 6th 2022, 5:56 PM

# Frustration

Maskless World Cup scenes spark anger in China

Driven by the fast-spreading Omicron variant, daily cases in the country hit 29,157 on Wednesday.

24.5k

Nov 23rd 2022, 3:30 PM

# pandemic

World Health Organisation warns Covid is still an international emergency

The WHO’s Covid-19 technical lead, agreed, warning that there were still millions of cases being reported each week

11.9k

Oct 19th 2022, 7:24 PM

# Immunology

Explainer: What you need to know about the new adapted Covid vaccines heading into winter

Professor of Immunology Christine Loscher says the new jabs work ‘specifically against Omicron’.

27.6k

Sep 26th 2022, 12:05 AM

# vaccine rollout

New Omicron-specific vaccines to be rolled out as boosters from next month, Health Minister says

Anyone who is eligible for both a flu vaccine and a Covid booster vaccine can receive them at the same time from next month.

19.5k

Sep 16th 2022, 7:18 PM

# Jabs

European Medicines Agency approves first Omicron-specific Covid vaccines

The so-called “bivalent” vaccines protect against the earlier BA.1 strain of Omicron, but do not target the latest strains.

15.5k

Updated

Sep 1st 2022, 2:42 PM

# Coronavirus

Immunologist says boosters must be used 'at the right time' to protect against winter Covid wave

Professor Christine Loscher told The Journal that there needs to be a “coordinated response” to deal with future waves of the virus.

34.2k

Jul 9th 2022, 12:05 AM

# omicron

New Omicron subvariants leading to increase in Covid-19 infections, health authorities say

However, the HSPC have said that there is no indication that the severity of the virus has changed.

26.9k

Jun 24th 2022, 11:42 AM

# omicron

Covid-19: Ireland's cases are rising quickly - here's why and what it means

Case numbers and hospitalisations are rapidly increasing – here’s a breakdown of the latest figures that you probably haven’t heard about.

The number of people with Covid-19 is on the rise once again.

Ireland is quietly fighting Omicron subvariants that are less affected by immune responses to the virus.

Lauren Boland breaks down the latest Covid-19 data and speaks to an immunologist about the spread of the subvariants.

76.3k

Jun 16th 2022, 12:05 AM

# omicron

A new Covid variant of concern has been detected in Ireland - what do we know about it?

BA.4 and BA.5 were identified by the ECDC as variants of concern earlier this month.

35.0k

May 23rd 2022, 3:09 PM

# China

Shanghai says 'zero-Covid' achieved but millions still in lockdown

The city of 25 million has been under heavy restrictions since early April.

7.3k

May 17th 2022, 7:40 AM

# Covid-19

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

# Covid-19

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

# Coronavirus

Germany has passed Omicron peak, says health minister

The country’s health minister has still warned against lifting restrictions too quickly however.

11.3k

Feb 18th 2022, 10:50 AM

# Covid-19

Sweden ends wide-scale Covid testing as pandemic restrictions lifted

The move puts the nation at odds with most of Europe, but experts say it could become the norm as costly testing yields fewer benefits with Omicron.

11.6k

Feb 9th 2022, 12:59 PM

# coronvirus

'Stealth Omicron' spreads more than original strain, Danish study finds

Sub-variant BA.2 – also called “stealth Omicron” – was detected earlier this year.

39.7k

Jan 31st 2022, 10:07 PM

# Losses

Ryanair posts €96 million loss for third quarter of 2021

The airline said it is selling more tickets for the summer season than it had before the pandemic.

9.7k

Jan 31st 2022, 8:16 AM

# Covid-19

Netherlands to ease Covid restrictions from today as WHO says Omicron risk remains 'very high'

Bars, restaurants and museums in the country will be allowed to reopen from today.

23.9k

Updated

Jan 26th 2022, 8:15 AM

# omicron

New Zealand’s PM postpones wedding as she introduces tougher Covid rules

Jacinda Ardern had been planning to get married next weekend but the celebration has been postponed.

61.0k

Jan 23rd 2022, 7:46 AM

# David Nabarro

WHO Special Envoy anticipates Covid-19 will become milder, but warns against reopening quickly

Nabarro said that while countries should hope for the best, they should expect difficulties to arrive.

27.6k

Jan 17th 2022, 1:42 PM

# Vaccine pass

Unvaccinated people to be excluded from venues under new French Covid law

French President Emmanuel Macron had hoped to pass the bill through the National Assembly sooner but was slowed due to opposition.

27.9k

101

Jan 17th 2022, 9:42 AM

# Olympic Games

Beijing reports first local Omicron case ahead of Winter Olympics

The infection comes less than three weeks before the Winter Olympic Games’ opening ceremony on 4 February.

13.8k

Jan 16th 2022, 1:55 PM

# lifting restrictions

Govt to review 8pm closing time as Taoiseach hopes NPHET advice will allow easing of restrictions

Micheál Martin says case numbers are levelling off.

36.3k

Jan 14th 2022, 1:45 PM

# omicron wave

HSE boss Reid says 'stable' ICU numbers are encouraging for hospital system

Paul Reid said the Omicron variant is still having a significant impact on the health service.

13.4k

Jan 13th 2022, 3:46 PM

# covid absences

Changes to HGV driving and resting time brought in due to driver shortages

The derogation will see the maximum hours for HGV drivers increased to 112 hours in a two week period.

41.7k

Jan 11th 2022, 7:58 PM

# Covid-19

Millions more locked down as China battles Omicron spread

In England, people who test positive on an antigen test will no longer need to take a PCR test to confirm their result.

24.0k

Updated

Jan 11th 2022, 11:12 AM

# ce mark

EU experts to discuss Genrui antigen tests after people report hundreds of false positives

Irish retailers have taken the at-home Covid-19 test kits off the shelves.

20.8k

Jan 11th 2022, 6:00 AM

# Albania

Here's What Happened Today: Saturday

Here’s your round-up of what made the headlines today.

22.6k

Jan 8th 2022, 8:00 PM

# vaccine rollout

Children aged 5-11 can get the Covid-19 vaccine from today

Health authorities are encouraging parents and guardians to get their children vaccinated.

28.8k

203

Jan 8th 2022, 1:15 PM

# the explainer

The Explainer: What can we learn from South Africa’s Omicron wave?

Can we say for definite now that Omicron is milder than other variants?

11.2k

Jan 8th 2022, 10:00 AM

# UK

UK to deploy troops to London hospitals impacted by Covid-related staff shortages

The deployment will include 40 military medics and 160 general duty personnel.

11.4k

Jan 7th 2022, 9:39 AM

# omicron

No new restrictions recommended by NPHET

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said earlier this week that most patients in ICU have the Delta variant.

54.6k

Jan 6th 2022, 8:50 PM

# Stormont Assembly

Stormont Assembly to be recalled over Omicron surge

The move follows a recall motion submitted by Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan.

9.1k

Jan 6th 2022, 7:32 PM

# HSE briefing

Hospitals under 'relentless pressure' as at least 8,500 HSE staff absent due to Omicron

HSE Chief Paul Reid says there is “absolutely no doubt” that Covid case numbers are much higher than the daily recorded figures.

18.6k

Jan 6th 2022, 3:48 PM

# omicron

No rule change for close contacts as Taoiseach warns of 'accelerating exponential growth'

Close contacts who have received a booster are required to self-isolate for five days.

Micheál Martin said that sectors can apply for derogation on the rules if deemed necessary.

Education Minister Norma Foley said today she said she would not be seeking a derogation for teachers.

Hospital data shows that the bulk of Ireland’s sickest Covid-19 patients have the Delta variant and not the highly contagious Omicron strain.

122k

Updated

Jan 5th 2022, 3:24 PM

# omicron

Ireland ranked highest in Europe for boosters as elective care may be cancelled due to Covid

Strict close contact rules and the prevalence of Covid-19 have caused worker shortages in some sectors.

91.5k

107

Updated

Jan 4th 2022, 7:45 PM

# world report

Blow for Macron's party as opposition join forces to hold up Covid bill

The United States set a new world record with more than one million cases logged yesterday.

15.4k

Jan 4th 2022, 1:37 PM

All time

# omicron

Covid case numbers are spiralling globally but deaths are down

The average number of new daily coronavirus cases globally has passed the symbolic one million mark.

21.8k

Dec 31st 2021, 3:24 PM

# Your Say

Poll: Will you use an antigen test today?

Some people are planning gatherings to ring in 2022.

60.1k

Dec 31st 2021, 9:30 AM