Restrictions easing
Thousands of workers around the country are returning to the office today for the first time since the pandemic began.
As part of the latest easing of Covid-19 restrictions, workers are being welcomed back on a phased basis, while indoor and outdoor activities, including dance and exercise classes, will be permitted to resume.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the easing was evidence of the success of the public health strategy, hailing the “exceptional progress” of the vaccine roll-out.
Hiqa report
The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) has recommended against the use of antigen testing for asymptomatic people.
The authority's latest report looked at the use of antigen tests for the screening or surveillance of asymptomatic people to limit transmission of Covid but found uncertainty regarding the tests' effectiveness.
Hiqa also said current rules regarding the wearing of face masks should remain in place and the minimum age for those required to wear face coverings should stay at 12-years-old.
Monaghan road crash
A woman in her 50s has been killed following a road traffic collision in Co Monaghan.
The single-vehicle crash occurred at about 5am on Monday morning on the Roslea Road, Clones.
The woman was a passenger in the car and two men, aged in their 20s, and a woman, aged in her 30s,were taken to Cavan General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Gorey water
Representative from Dublin and Wexford are meeting with Irish Water today over water contamination in recent weeks.
Unsafe water leaving Gorey treatment plant, which serves parts of Dublin city and Gorey in Co Wexford, over a five-day period recently led to 52 confirmed illnesses and a number of hospital admissions.
Irish Water have apologised for the issue, while an audit of all treatment plants in the country will be carried out.
Taoiseach in New York
Taoiseach Micheál Martin is in New York beginning a five-day visit to coincide with the annual UN General Assembly meeting.
Ireland is chairing meetings of the Security Council this month, and Mr Martin will lead a discussion on Thursday on climate and security.
He will address the UN General Assembly on Friday, where he is to outline Ireland’s views on the Covid-19 pandemic and the ethical obligation to share vaccines with less developed countries.
