Coronavirus

Gardaí searched a suspected shebeen near Athy in Co Kildare on Friday and found a bar, stools, tables and chairs, a 70-inch flat screen TV and a pool table. Image: Gardainfo/Twitter Gardaí find ‘fully operational bar’ after visiting suspected shebeen
Polish president Andrzej Duda has tested positive for Covid-19 as the country introduces new restrictions to limit spread of disease. Photograph: Radek Pietruszka/EPA. Polish president Andrzej Duda tests positive for Covid-19
Members of the public have been advised to stop using all Virapro-branded sanitary products after it emerged that several are not authorised for use in the State. File photograph: Dave Meehan/The Irish Times. Covid-19: Public advised to stop using all Virapro sanitary products
Pitkin County volunteer election official John Ortega (left), guides a voter as he drops his ballot after voting in person on the first day of early voting at the Aspen Jewish Community Center earlier this week. Photograph: Kelsey Brunner/The Aspen Times/AP Coronavirus: US sets single-day record for cases during new surge
An eerily quiet Temple Bar in Dublin: By ordering the private sector to close, in order to avoid overwhelming our hospitals, the State is putting most of the economic burden on the small business sector. Photograph: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos David McWilliams: Lockdown decision makers still get paid. Those they shut down do not
US president Donald Trump’s campaign now consists primarily of showing himself to his people and inviting them to bask in the wonder of his resurrection. Photograph: Gene J Puskar/AP Fintan O’Toole: Donald Trump’s campaign has a joyful new message – ‘I’m alive!’
‘Loneliness and isolation are probably the main issues. We know that families are very important for people with mental health problems.’ Photograph: iStock ‘Afraid, frozen, stuck’: The mental health pandemic and how to fight it
GP Dr Darach Brennan at Johnstown Medical Centre, Waterford. Brennan says the threat of Covid-19 ‘became very real, very quickly’ following two high-profile cases in Waterford. Photograph: Patrick Browne Why Waterford is ‘the best Covid county in Ireland’

Ireland

Gardaí searched a suspected shebeen near Athy in Co Kildare on Friday and found a bar, stools, tables and chairs, a 70-inch flat screen TV and a pool table. Image: Gardainfo/Twitter Gardaí find ‘fully operational bar’ after visiting suspected shebeen
Members of the public have been advised to stop using all Virapro-branded sanitary products after it emerged that several are not authorised for use in the State. File photograph: Dave Meehan/The Irish Times. Covid-19: Public advised to stop using all Virapro sanitary products
“We were using public order legislation to prevent, actually, what would have been a frightening stampede up Grafton Street,” says Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Photograph: Stephen Collins ‘Propensity for violence’ evident in extremist protests on streets
The reduction in close contacts will help ease pressure on the State’s contact tracing operation. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire Coronavirus: Close contact numbers fall in sign restrictions may be working
A group of 70 pastors attached to evangelical Christian denominations have written to the Government warning of ‘severe’ consequences if their churches are not opened up. File photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times Government warned by pastors of ‘severe’ consequences if churches are not opened up

World

Polish president Andrzej Duda has tested positive for Covid-19 as the country introduces new restrictions to limit spread of disease. Photograph: Radek Pietruszka/EPA. Polish president Andrzej Duda tests positive for Covid-19
Pitkin County volunteer election official John Ortega (left), guides a voter as he drops his ballot after voting in person on the first day of early voting at the Aspen Jewish Community Center earlier this week. Photograph: Kelsey Brunner/The Aspen Times/AP Coronavirus: US sets single-day record for cases during new surge
A man wearing a protective face mask as a measure against the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. Photograph: Philippe Desmazes/AFP Coronavirus: Frances passes 1m cases; Europe sees record number of new infections
Britain’s prime minister Boris Johnson: “I share people’s frustrations and I understand totally why we do need to see faster turnaround times and we need to improve it,” the British prime minister told a press conference in Downing Street. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Getty Images Boris Johnson admits UK’s test-and-trace system must improve
People opposed to face masks walk in a protest march against government restrictions on personal freedoms in Stuttgart, Germany. Photograph: Thomas Lohnes/Getty ‘I will shoot you’: German politicians hit with Covid hate mail

Business

Phil Hogan: there could be a role for the EU in guiding the recovery from Covid-19 and managing resilience across sectors. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill ‘Last-chance saloon’ Brexit talks will yield deal, Phil Hogan claims
Yoga and Pilates studio owner Colm Walsh: ‘I’ll have to get another job, even though I still have to run a business which paid over €100,000 in income tax and VAT last year’ ‘Disproportionate’ and ‘devastating’: Business owners on Level 5
A Berlin shopping mall this week. Services activity fell this month in Germany and France, the euro zone’s two largest economies, as the sector bore the brunt of new restrictions and of weak consumer confidence as job losses continued to rise. Photograph: EPA Euro zone business activity falls as virus restrictions choke off recovery
Much of Dublin city centre is now closed for business. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times Consumer mood darkens, businesses react to Level 5 and Diageo launches Guinness 0.0
Aerogen chief executive, John Power Galway’s Aerogen plays key role in Covid-19 therapies

Opinion & Analysis

An eerily quiet Temple Bar in Dublin: By ordering the private sector to close, in order to avoid overwhelming our hospitals, the State is putting most of the economic burden on the small business sector. Photograph: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos David McWilliams: Lockdown decision makers still get paid. Those they shut down do not
US president Donald Trump’s campaign now consists primarily of showing himself to his people and inviting them to bask in the wonder of his resurrection. Photograph: Gene J Puskar/AP Fintan O’Toole: Donald Trump’s campaign has a joyful new message – ‘I’m alive!’
Repeated lockdowns will shrink the economy to the extent it cannot pay for the social goods tax revenues purchase for us. Photograph: Stephen Collins/Collins Pat Leahy: Fiscal reality will halt cycle of lockdowns
Anatomy of a lockdown U-turn: Holding out against Nphet a gamble politicians unwilling to take
To what extent is the daily dose of dire data driven by media hunger, knowing the visceral worries it will provoke, and the viewers and readers it will ensnare? Photo: Nphet Briefing. Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin Irish media needs to take a look at how it is covering pandemic
Stormont Minister for the Environment Edwin Poots: The entire debacle was met with a lurid amalgamation of exasperation and humour – social media posts saw users inquiring if others had contracted “Catholic Covid or Protestant Covid”. Photograph: Paul McErlane/EPA Poots’ comments about Covid-19 would be funny if they were not so serious
People in Grafton Street in Dublin during the first day of the Level 5 restrictions in the city. The shutting down of almost all retail business, apart from supermarkets, will have a devastating impact on employment and mental health, even though there is little evidence that shopping is a major spreader of Covid-19. Photograph: Damien Eagers/PA Nphet now in control of the country’s economic and social policy
Public health doctors say it is inevitable the disease will make its way into nursing homes when there is widespread transmission in the community, as there is at present. Photograph: John Stillwell Covid-19: Despite fears, nursing homes now better able to halt outbreaks
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham: “The culture is still that Westminster holds all the power and all the money.” Photograph: Jacob King/PA Coronavirus exposes lack of power exerted by England’s regions

Life & Style

‘Loneliness and isolation are probably the main issues. We know that families are very important for people with mental health problems.’ Photograph: iStock ‘Afraid, frozen, stuck’: The mental health pandemic and how to fight it
GP Dr Darach Brennan at Johnstown Medical Centre, Waterford. Brennan says the threat of Covid-19 ‘became very real, very quickly’ following two high-profile cases in Waterford. Photograph: Patrick Browne Why Waterford is ‘the best Covid county in Ireland’
Gaz Smith at his pop-up farm shop which opens today at his Michael’s restaurant in Mount Merrion. Photographs: Fran Veale Restaurant turns shuttered €16,000 outdoor dining area into farm shop
Due to cocooning some people have a greater fear of falling because they haven’t been moving much. Falls and the elderly: How to avoid accidents at home
‘You guys are amazing’: Matt Damon’s message of support to Temple Street children, families and staff

Sport

Craig Maxwell-Keys will oversee Exeter’s clash with Wasps at Twickenham on Saturday. File photograph: Getty Images Premiership final referee Wayne Barnes tests positive for Covid-19
Laois’ Zach Tuohy and Kerry’s Mark O’Connor will be key players for Geelong in Saturday’s AFL Grand Final. File photograph: Getty Images Irish duo set for AFL Grand Final as sport lifts the gloom Down Under
The Antrim footballers are eager for their match against Waterford to played this weekend: “we believe that the integrity of the league needs to be upheld. If we are good enough to collect two points we will do it in a fair and manly manner on the field of play.” Photograph: Inpho Waterford accept Antrim’s offer to play league match in Dundalk
England’s international friendly against New Zealand in November has been called off. File photograph: Getty Images New Zealand pull out of England friendly due to travel restrictions
Nir Bitton ahead of Israel’s match against Scotland at Hampden Park on Thursday night. Photograph: PA Celtic player Nir Bitton tests positive for Covid-19

Education

Prolonged use of product can cause dermatitis, eye irritation, upper respiratory system irritation and headaches, says Department. File photograph: iStock Hand sanitiser used in some schools can cause headaches and respiratory problems
Data compiled by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre shows a total of 46 outbreaks – two or more cases – were detected in primary and secondary schools in the Republic of Ireland last week, almost twice the number recorded a week previously. Photograph: AFP/Getty Covid-19 outbreaks in schools almost double in one week
Minister for Education Norma Foley has said school communities ‘can be absolutely assured’ that any necessary resources and measures will be put in place to ensure a safe return to school after mid-term. Photograph: Maxwells Schools should not reopen after midterm unless safety improves, say unions
Tarbert Comprehensive School in Co Kerry has been ordered to reopen by the Department of Education after deciding to close due to an ‘alarming increase’ in Covid-19 cases. Photograph: Giacomo Antonio Lombardi School ordered to reopen after closing due to Covid-19 fears
The Government plans to keep schools open under Level 5 of the Living with Covid plan. File photograph: The Irish Times Schools can be ‘assured’ of safe return after mid-term, Foley says

Guides

A man wearing a face walks past a mural in Dublin on October 21st. Photograph: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Life under Level 5: Where can I go, who can I see, what is closed and what is open?
The 14-day incidence of the virus in Donegal has more than doubled in a week, to 122.5 per 100,000 people. Covid-19 Q&A: How are we doing, is there any good news and what happens now?
Children need to know that they have to keep their distance from people outside their immediate family. Photograph: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos The new Covid rules: what you can do – and what you can't
Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly arriving at Dublin Castle to unveil the new Covid-19 plan. Photograph: Julien Behal/PA Wire Q&A: What is the latest Government plan to manage coronavirus?
A passenger wears a mask on a bus in Dublin city centre. Photograph: Alan Betson Living with Covid plan: What is in each of the five levels?
The flu vaccine is free for those over 65, people with long-term health issues and children. Photograph: iStock Are your symptoms flu or Covid-19? How to tell the difference
‘I truly believe a flu jab and a renewed zeal for hand washing and social distancing will make the winter ahead a bearable one.’ Photograph: iStock Have I got the flu or Covid-19? Could I have both?
Employers can pay workers an allowance of €3.20 a day to compensate for home expenses without paying any tax, PRSI or the universal social charge on it. Photograph: Getty Images Working from home: Who pays your heating bills this winter?
The key thing when washing face masks is to build up a good lather because the virus hates soap. Photograph: iStock ‘Treat your face mask like your underwear.’ How to care for your reusable face covering
The precise details of the EU traffic-light system will be agreed at an EU Council of Ministers meeting on October 15th. Photograph: Getty Images Where can I travel abroad to now? Well, it’s complicated
Passengers wearing face masks on an Olympic Air De Havilland Canada aircraft flying from Athens. Certain factors on board, such as raised seat backs, can help lessen virus transmission. Photograph: Nicolas Economou/ NurPhoto via Getty Images How safe is air travel during the coronavirus pandemic?
IAs companies gingerly prepare to reopen their offices, workers are coming to terms with the reality that it is impossible to make things 100 per cent safe. How safe is it to go back to the office?

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

The Irish Times view on the return to lockdown: a country in deep-freeze The Irish Times view on the return to lockdown: a country in deep-freeze
The Irish Times view on Covid-19 in the UK: London vs the regions The Irish Times view on Covid-19 in the UK: London vs the regions

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