Nphet to consider further restrictions
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) will meet on Thursday to discuss the need for additional restrictions to control the transmission of Covid-19 over the Christmas period.
The Irish Times reports public health officials are expected to discuss whether such action is necessary, given the high prevalence of the virus in the country, coupled with concerns surrounding the Omicron variant.
While the return of a strict lockdown is not thought to be one of the measures being considered, curbs to limit socialising may be on the cards, such as restrictions on the size of bookings for hospitality venues or an enhanced use of the Covid cert.
Mandatory hotel quarantine
The reintroduction of mandatory hotel quarantine is set to be debated in the Dáil on Thursday.
Mandatory hotel quarantine legislation had already lapsed while the other Covid powers are due to expire early next year.
This comes following the introduction of further international travel guidelines amid the emergence of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19.
Fall in cancer diagnoses during pandemic
A new report from the National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) has said early data suggests a drop in the number of cancers diagnosed during the pandemic.
Although a definitive percentage is not known, it is estimated that the overall shortfall may be between 10-14 per cent.
As highlighted by the NCRI, throughout the pandemic, patients postponed doctors’ visits, screening programmes were paused, and acute services were reconfigured to reduce footfall in hospitals.
The Irish Cancer Society has said the progress made on cancer survival is now at risk due to the disruption of Covid-19.
Bank of Ireland receives fine
The Central Bank has fined Bank of Ireland €24.5 million for technology failures the lender took more than a decade to fix.
Handing down one of its largest ever penalties, the Central Bank said IT service continuity deficiencies were repeatedly identified in third party reports from 2008 onwards but that Bank of Ireland only started to address them in 2015, resolving the issue four years later.
Bank of Ireland admitted to five contraventions over the 12-year period, and the fine was reduced from €35 million in accordance with a settlement discount.
Woman killed and three injured in road collision
A woman has been killed following a road traffic collision in Co Kilkenny.
The crash occurred on the N25 at Gaulstown in Glenmore on Wednesday at approximately 6.30pm.
The woman, aged in her 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene. Three further women, two aged in the 20s and one in her late teens, were taken to University Hospital Waterford with serious injuries.
The road remains closed following the two-vehicle collision while a forensic examination is conducted. Local diversions are in place.
