Coronavirus

Under current Covid-19 restrictions, counter service at pubs is prohibited and all premises must close at 11.30pm, as with restaurants. Photograph: Damien Eagers/PA Wire Pubs seek lifting of ban on use of bar counters as restaurants request later closing time
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the additional supplies would be ‘a welcome boost to our rollout’ of the vaccine. Photograph: Marc O’Sullivan Taoiseach confirms deal with Romania for 700,000 Covid vaccines
People in west Belfast queue for Covid-19 vaccines after 500 people were promised free tickets to Féile an Phobail’s music night in exchange for being jabbed. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Leading doctor in North ‘frightened’ after threats over vaccination plea
Van Morrison: ‘During my legal proceedings, we were given assurances that specific medical evidence to justify the blanket ban for Northern Ireland would be shared with our legal team. We are still waiting to receive that evidence.’ Photograph: David M Benett/Getty Images Van Morrison drops live music legal challenge against Stormont
Co-founder of the Association of Catholic Priests Fr Tony Flannery says bishops missed an opportunity to ‘relocate’ the preparation for sacraments from schools to parishes so ceremonies would be for only those who ‘really want it’. File photograph: iStock Allowing Communions and Confirmations will help spread Delta variant, says founder of priests’ group
A shopping district in Wuhan on January 23rd last, the first anniversary of the city’s lockdown in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Photograph: Roman Pilipey/EPA Beijing shuts down transport links as Delta variant spreads to cities
Sanofi expects to complete the acquisition in the third quarter of 2021. Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images Sanofi agrees to buy mRNA partner Translate Bio in $3.2 bn deal
Covid-19 Vaccine Tracker: How many people have been inoculated in Ireland?
Sydney, where Qantas is headquartered, and surrounding cities in the state of New South Wales have been locked down since June 26th. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/EPA Qantas to furlough 2,500 staff amid Australian lockdown

Vaccine Rollout

Covid-19 Vaccine Tracker: How many people have been inoculated in Ireland?
What has been established to date by experts is that, broadly speaking, the risk to healthy children is very low. File photograph: Getty 5:58 Covid Q&A: What you need to know about child vaccinations
Younger people are now able to sign up for earlier access to Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot vaccine. File photograph: Getty How is the State’s vaccine rollout going?
Eileen Kelly, principal clinical lead of the HSE, at the National Show Centre in Swords, Co Dublin. Photograph: Tom Honan Explainer: Where does each age group stand in terms of being vaccinated?
The seven-day average in Ireland is the equivalent of 1.19 per cent of the population receiving a dose on a daily basis. Photograph: iStock Ireland now has one of the fastest vaccination rates, data shows
Scientists are trying to answer a crucial question: do the leading vaccinations against Covid-19 protect people against Delta? Photograph: Geoff Caddick/ AFP How well do Covid-19 vaccines protect against the Delta variant?
People aged 18-35 can seek an mRNA vaccine when registration opens or go to a pharmacy for a Janssen or AstraZeneca jab. Photograph: iStock Explainer: What vaccine options are open to the under-35s?
A US healthcare worker draws a dose of the Johnson & Johnson Janssen Covid-19 vaccine. Photograph: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg Q&A: So will 40-49s get the Janssen vaccine soon? It’s not that simple
Canada became the first country in the world at the start of May to approve the Pfizer vaccine for 12 years and up and was followed by the United States a week later. Photograph: iStock Q&A: Are Covid-19 vaccines on the way for teenagers and children in Ireland?

Ireland

Under current Covid-19 restrictions, counter service at pubs is prohibited and all premises must close at 11.30pm, as with restaurants. Photograph: Damien Eagers/PA Wire Pubs seek lifting of ban on use of bar counters as restaurants request later closing time
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the additional supplies would be ‘a welcome boost to our rollout’ of the vaccine. Photograph: Marc O’Sullivan Taoiseach confirms deal with Romania for 700,000 Covid vaccines
People in west Belfast queue for Covid-19 vaccines after 500 people were promised free tickets to Féile an Phobail’s music night in exchange for being jabbed. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Leading doctor in North ‘frightened’ after threats over vaccination plea
Van Morrison: ‘During my legal proceedings, we were given assurances that specific medical evidence to justify the blanket ban for Northern Ireland would be shared with our legal team. We are still waiting to receive that evidence.’ Photograph: David M Benett/Getty Images Van Morrison drops live music legal challenge against Stormont
Co-founder of the Association of Catholic Priests Fr Tony Flannery says bishops missed an opportunity to ‘relocate’ the preparation for sacraments from schools to parishes so ceremonies would be for only those who ‘really want it’. File photograph: iStock Allowing Communions and Confirmations will help spread Delta variant, says founder of priests’ group

World

A shopping district in Wuhan on January 23rd last, the first anniversary of the city’s lockdown in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Photograph: Roman Pilipey/EPA Beijing shuts down transport links as Delta variant spreads to cities
After taking many countries off its highest warning level since June, the US has been adding more countries back because of rising COVID-19 cases. File photograph: iStock US advises against travel to Ireland, warning of rising Covid-19 cases
‘We must avoid a situation in which the Olympics was held but the medical system collapsed,’ Hironori Sagara, director of Showa University Hospital says. Photograph: Carl Court/Getty Images Japan begins ‘name and shame’ for quarantine rule-breakers as Covid cases surge
A male tiger, Tina rests inside the cage after it get Covid-19 swab test at Ragunan Zoo in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photograph: Adi Weda/EPA Critically endangered tigers recovering after catching Covid-19
About 600 people have been detained in Berlin, Germany, during demonstrations against Covid-19 rules. Photograph: Clemens Bilan/EPA Man dies after being detained by Berlin police during anti-restrictions protest

Business

Sanofi expects to complete the acquisition in the third quarter of 2021. Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images Sanofi agrees to buy mRNA partner Translate Bio in $3.2 bn deal
Sydney, where Qantas is headquartered, and surrounding cities in the state of New South Wales have been locked down since June 26th. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/EPA Qantas to furlough 2,500 staff amid Australian lockdown
Google says it will require employees who return to the company’s offices to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. Photograph: Jason Alden/Bloomberg Google says staff must get vaccine before return to office
On an annual basis clothing and footwear sales increased by 42.6%. Photograph: iStock Retail sales rise in June following further loosening of restrictions
The EU drug regulator said research on more than 3,700 children aged 12 to 17 showed that the Moderna vaccine – already given the OK for adults across Europe – produced a comparable antibody response. Moderna Covid-19 vaccine cleared for use in teenagers by European Medicines Agency
Confronting Coronavirus - The Biggest Story of our Lives Confronting Coronavirus - The Biggest Story of our Lives

This is the final instalment of the Confronting Coronavirus podcast series. For the final two-part episode, we’ve asked a handful of Irish Times journ (...)

Lives Lost The rich and full lives of the people behind the Covid-19 death statistics
 

Opinion & Analysis

Online Mass: The designated devotional area increasingly became a designated liturgical one: attendance at Sunday Mass. This was the one time in the week into which a Catholic could plough his or her pious energies. Might Covid and 2020 mark a final rupture in history of Irish Catholicism?
Cathal Fitzpatrick with his daughter Almha, from Sutton, at the HSE Covid-19 vaccination walk-in centre, in Croke Park. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill ‘I’m really glad this day finally arrived’: Hundreds queue for Covid-19 vaccines
More than 1,400km of cycling infrastructure was built during the pandemic in Europe alone, and similar shifts are afoot from Bogotá to Sydney. Photograph: Getty Images 4:13 Pilita Clark: The rush to forget Covid needs to slow down
A big row is coming about what the ‘return to work’ will look like. Photograph: iStock Cliff Taylor: Three big clashes are coming as the economy reopens this autumn
Katherine Zappone: The bungling of the communication around her appointment does something of a disservice to her, whose credentials on human rights issues are not in doubt. Photograph: Dave Meehan Bungled Zappone appointment deflects attention from more serious issues
Taoiseach Micheál Martin meets 3rd class pupils from St Brigid’s Girls National School in Glasnevin (from left) Isabella Ryan (10), Ella Brereton (9), Charlotte Collins (9), Caoimhe Flanagan (10), and Faye Haverty (10), who made their First Holy Communion on Wednesday as a small group. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire 7:32 Miriam Lord: Martin unveils brainstorm as another storm brews over Zappone posting
Photograph: Stock photo/Getty Images 4:19 Celebrating a very international wedding – over Zoom
Wedded blitz: Orla Hogan, Ali O’Mara, Briana Cullen, Anna Killeen and Orla Ó hUadhaigh protest at the Department of Health over restrictions on numbers of guests at weddings. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times Miriam Lord: Here come the Bridezillas to give Government a good dressing-down
The reasons why cases are dropping so fast now are far from clear, leading Downing Street to strike a cautious tone. Photograph: EPA Steep fall in UK coronavirus positives reason for scientific cheer

Life & Style

Joseph Mercola: the osteopathic physician is a key figure in the “Disinformation Dozen” spreading anti-vaccine messaging, researchers say. Photograph: Mercola Is this doctor the most influential spreader of Covid-19 misinformation online?
Leinster rugby players, brothers and now competitors Harry Byrne and Ross Byrne will be be ambassadors/team captains for the August 2nd-16th event. Photograph: Andres Poveda Dublin-Rome virtual virtual run will help the homeless – and you
The aim of some people is to defeat not the pandemic itself but those who are leading the fight against it I am baffled by the hysterical campaign against those leading the fight against Covid
Ballybunion sea-swimmers: Bridget McCarthy (from left), Dee Keogh , Cathy Sadlier, Helen McSweeney and Fiona McLoughlin . Photograph: Domnick Walsh 36 hours in Ballybunion: ‘Main Street has become a bit of a disaster’
The agency’s data suggest that people with weak immune systems should wear masks even in places that do not have high transmission of the virus. File Photograph: iStock Delta variant as contagious as chickenpox, says US health-protection agency

Sport

The National Stadium, the main stadium of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Photograph: EPA Covid-19 case recorded at Tokyo Olympic Village
A tennis player under hotel quarantine for two weeks following her arrival into Melbourne for this year’s Australian Open. Photograph: Getty Images Australian Open warns players won’t accept strict quarantine again
Organisers have already banned overseas spectators at the Tokyo Olympics and set a cap on domestic spectators at 50% of capacity, up to 10,000 people, to contain a lingering coronavirus outbreak. Photograph: Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP via Getty Images Japan considers banning all spectators from Olympics
The Australian Formula One and MotoGP races have been cancelled for a second straight year due to the coronavirus pandemic. File photograph: Getty Images Australian F1 Grand Prix and MotoGP event cancelled for 2021
Sligo Rovers face FH Hafnarfjordur in the first leg of their Europa Conference League qualifier in Iceland on Thursday. File photograph: Evan Logan/Inpho Two Sligo Rovers players out of trip to Iceland due to Covid-19

Education

The findings of the report are from 18 regional events across eight Education and Training Boards between October 2020 and May 2021. File photograph: Getty Over 50% of students struggle with mental health during pandemic
Students at Lucan Community College continue classes amid pandemic related precautions. File photograph: Enda O’Dowd Physical distancing and pods to remain in schools after summer
The Dáil committee heard that all school inspections from January 2022 onwards will include a specific focus on bullying. File photograph: Getty 4:00 Dáil group hears of children refusing to go back to school
The report, Social Justice Policy Matters: Education and Covid-19, looks at the impact of the pandemic on primary and post-primary pupils. 1:39 Students face 3% lower income over lifetime due to Covid-19
Laurel Hill Secondary School has been donated antigen tests by Louth-based Cooley Supplies Ltd, which claims research shows they are up to 96% accurate. Photograph: Getty Images 3:21 School distributes antigen tests to Leaving Cert students amid Covid fears

Guides

Proof of vaccination and photographic ID will be required to access pubs and restaurants when they reopen from Monday. Photograph: iStock Indoor dining Q&A: What you need to know ahead of reopening
Indoor dining is being restricted to those who are fully vaccinated or those who have recovered from a recent Covid infection. Image: Paul Scott Q&A: Who can dine indoors and how will it be regulated?
If you have been fully vaccinated then you should receive the Covid cert in the post or via email. Photograph: Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Q&A: Does the new digital Covid cert mean I can finally go on holiday?
Foreign holidays: don’t book anything non-refundable just yet. Photograph: iStock/Getty Will we be able to go abroad this summer? Here’s what we know right now
From May 10th, beauty services, including barbers and hairdressers, will reopen. Photograph: Marcin Bielecki/ EPA Q&A: Leg wax? Shopping? A visit to Kerry? How to enjoy reopening without catching Covid
Grafton Street, Dublin in December following the re-opening. Non-essentail retail set to reopen in May. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Explainer: What are the reopening plans and key dates for exiting lockdown?
Summer holidays: the Seychelles and Maldives want to welcome tourists back. Source photograph: Romolo Tavani/iStock/Getty Q&A: What are the chances of being able to holiday abroad this summer?
A test sample is dropped onto an antigen testing strip at Berlin Brandenburg Airport in Berlin, Germany. Photograph: Liesa Johannssen-Koppitz/Bloomberg Will rapid work-based Covid testing soon become the norm?
A member of the Defence Forces directs passengers arriving at Dublin Airport to a mandatory 12-day hotel quarantine. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Covid-19 mandatory hotel quarantine: who is in charge of policing it?
A Garda checkpoint in Dublin recently. Photograph: Collins Q&A: What are the new Covid travel rules and how will they work?
There has been mixed news on the vaccine front. Photograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images Q&A: Everything you need to know about Level 5 lockdown
A pulse oximeter is placed on a person’s finger to measure the oxygen level in the blood. Photograph: iStock Covid-19: How to look after yourself if you catch the virus

Coronavirus - the Science

Hanwha Eagles players line up wearing face masks ahead of the opening game of South Korea’s new baseball season. Photograph: Jung Yeon-Je/Getty/AFP Coronavirus – the science: Big shift in thinking on face masks
Vaccines doses in bottles prepared by a team of experts at the University of Oxford. Photograph: Sean Elias/PA Wire Coronavirus – the science: The six milestones Ireland needs to reach before easing restrictions
Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the US, said people should not assume a change in the weather will limit the spread of the coronavirus. ‘You must assume that the virus will continue to do its thing,’ he said. Photograph: Al Drago/The New York Times. Coronavirus – the science: The case for crushing Covid-19 rather than living with it

Editorials

Lessons from the pandemic: Irish Times view on the value of public service Lessons from the pandemic: Irish Times view on the value of public service

The Irish Times view on Covid-19 vaccines for children: a symptom of global inequality The Irish Times view on Covid-19 vaccines for children: a symptom of global inequality

Letters

Covid-19 – a national research biobank is urgently needed
Covid-19 and nursing homes
EU solidarity is essential
Coronavirus – a time for working together
Coronavirus – a time for concerted action
Constitution and homelessness crisis
Coronavirus and global solidarity
Coronavirus – focus on healthcare staff
Covid-19 in Gaza
Insurers and a national emergency
All Coronavirus Articles