The return of schools, healthcare staff shortages and potential changes to close contact rules are among the headlines on the first bank holiday Monday of 2022.
The Irish Times leads with absentee rates among healthcare staff as hospitalisations reached a 10-month high on Sunday, reporting that high case numbers are expected to translate to a spike in hospitalisations in the coming days.
The Irish Examiner's front page covers potential plans to reduce the isolation period for Covid close contacts, following a recent decision taken by the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in the US.
The Echo's main headline reads: 'Schools at "huge risk",' speaking to school principals about their reservations regarding the reopening of schools later this week amid a spike in Covid infections.
For all this, plus the latest part in our exclusive Paul McKenna 'Think Yourself Positive' series, pick up Monday's Irish Daily Mail, or click on https://t.co/7yQSg4dmA7 pic.twitter.com/Ya5H4VjyFK
Advertisement— The Irish Daily Mail (@irishdailymail) January 3, 2022
The Irish Independent, Irish Daily Mirror and Irish Daily Mail all carry an image of Aoife Beary on their front page. Ms Beary, who survived the Berkeley balcony collapse in June 2015, died in Beaumont Hospital on Saturday having suffered a stroke earlier in the week.
Today's Irish Sun front page. pic.twitter.com/GLLbyl3ntA
Advertisement— The Irish Sun (@IrishSunOnline) January 3, 2022
As six people have been killed on the roads since the start of the bank holiday weekend, The Irish Sun covers the death of three people following a road traffic collision in Co Meath on New Year's Eve.
Monday’s edition includes Slimming World recipes pullout and super soccer pullout pic.twitter.com/hoYmLRaTpA
Advertisement— Irish Daily Star (@IsFearrAnStar) January 3, 2022
The Irish Daily Star reads: 'You Saved My Life', reporting that a 17-year-old girl was "brutally assaulted by four armed teens" in Dublin and left in risk of losing the sight in one of her eyes.
Morning readers, and happy New Year. Stay with @beltel for all your breaking news. Here's a look at the front page of the Belfast Telegraph this morninghttps://t.co/bbRGxQjfhA pic.twitter.com/3hGqraO0fO
— Belfast Telegraph (@BelTel) January 3, 2022
Finally, the Belfast Telegraph's lead image is from the funeral of Nathan Corrigan, who died in a road traffic collision in Co Tyrone on Monday. Mr Corrigan died alongside his two friends, Peter Finnegan and Peter McNamee, all three of whom were aged in their 20s.
Meanwhile, the British papers are led by new restrictions being brought in for schools in England as Omicron cases continue to escalate.
The Guardian reports schools have been advised to merge classes and use support staff as fill-in teachers in order to cope with an Omicron-fuelled staffing crisis.
Guardian front page, Monday 3 January 2022: Merge classes to cope with Covid staffing crisis, headteachers told pic.twitter.com/85wd45dGH7
— The Guardian (@guardian) January 2, 2022
The Daily Telegraph leads with the backlash to the decision to reintroduce face coverings in classrooms for students in year 7 and above.
📰The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
'Backlash at masks in schools as cases ease'#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/gM0yOeTvQZ— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) January 2, 2022
The Times, Daily Express and i say the UK government is confident there is no immediate need to bring in further restrictions.
TIMES: Ministers confident new curbs not needed #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/yrYFISbSEp
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 2, 2022
EXPRESS: Boris holding his nerve as NHS feels strain #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/fDDhV0kFcr
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 2, 2022
Monday's front page: PM to delay decision on new Covid restrictions @HugoGye reports: https://t.co/Z8QMWRQ4S0 #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/P823F6LSud
— i newspaper (@theipaper) January 2, 2022
Elsewhere, the Daily Mirror reports the NHS is facing a “staffing meltdown” as Omicron cases continue to rise.
Tomorrow's Front Page: Proof the next Doctor Who is a woman? #tomorrowspaperstodayhttps://t.co/6hPtZnjUHg pic.twitter.com/XSB6SdEcyv
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) January 2, 2022
Pressure is piling on the British prime minister over soaring energy bills, according to the Daily Mail.
MAIL: Pressure piles on PM over energy bill crisis #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/G6Qx8pOkIZ
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 2, 2022
The Independent reports on the location disparity in vulnerable children’s access to mental health services.
Tomorrow's @independent front page #tomorrowspaperstoday To subscribe to the Daily Edition https://t.co/koJc3LN1ax pic.twitter.com/3ioMFbEDLb
— Thair Shaikh (@ThairShaikh) January 2, 2022
And the Daily Star says the UK is in store for a “polar plunge” after the record-breaking mild New Year weather.
Tomorrow's front page: Back in the freezer#tomorrowspaperstodayhttps://t.co/iK1VQ7pvDN pic.twitter.com/pgB3ycEx3x
— Daily Star (@dailystar) January 2, 2022
