Pharmacies to start administering vaccines
Pharmacy chain Boots has confirmed it will offer Covid-19 vaccinations at stores across Ireland.
Covid-19 vaccines will be available in 81 Boots pharmacies nationwide from this week.
In line with the HSE vaccination schedule, Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccinations are available in pharmacies for people aged 50 and over who have missed out on their vaccine or not been able to get to a vaccination centre.
Colleges to pilot rapid antigen testing
A pilot scheme of rapid Covid antigen testing has been introduced in four colleges across Ireland with the aim of preventing the spread of the disease in educational settings.
UniCov is conducting a large-scale analysis of rapid testing technologies to support students returning to campus.
The scheme began on Monday at NUI Galway, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin and University College Cork.
Delta variant concerns
The Irish Government is considering increasing quarantine requirements for travellers from Britain amid concern over the Delta Covid-19 variant, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said on Sunday.
Currently travellers from Britain must self-quarantine but can move freely once they obtain a negative Covid-19 test no less than five days after arrival.
The Delta variant, which was first identified in India, is now the dominant strain in Britain and is proving to be 60 per cent more transmissible than the previously dominant Alpha strain.
Arlene Foster resigns as Northern Ireland First Minister
Northern Ireland will only move forward when the region’s differing identities are respected by all, resigning First Minister Arlene Foster has said.
Making her resignation speech to the Assembly chamber, the ousted DUP leader said her time as First Minister may have ended “abruptly” but she vowed to pursue “unfinished business” in championing Northern Ireland in other ways.
Mrs Foster, who acknowledged she had not always made the right calls, became emotional as she closed her speech with an appeal for MLAs to act as “good neighbours”.
Mauritius to re-examine Michaela McAreavey murder
The government of Mauritius has agreed to look again at the case of murdered honeymooner Michaela McAreavey, Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill have confirmed.
The North's First Minister and Deputy First Minister met with the McAreavey family on Monday to update them on progress following engagement with the Mauritian government.
The 27-year-old, who was the only daughter of all-Ireland winning GAA manager Mickey Harte, was strangled in her hotel room on the Indian Ocean island on January 10th, 2011.
