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'Kraken' variant is spreading rapidly in the US

Covid variant 'likely' to become dominant in Ireland

A new, highly transmissible coronavirus variant is likely to become the dominant strain in Ireland, according to Professor of Experimental Immunology at Trinity College Dublin Kingston Mills.

Coronavirus • 11 Jan 23

Adapted bivalent Covid-19 vaccine boosters are now preferentially recommended

More than 500,000 Covid bivalent boosters given

Over 500,000 Covid-19 bivalent vaccines have been administered since the vaccines were introduced on 3 October.

Coronavirus • 21 Nov 22

Figures released show Covid cases reported since Thursday 14 April

14,486 cases of Covid-19 recorded over Easter weekend

Almost 14,500 cases of Covid-19 were reported over the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend, according to latest figures.

Coronavirus • 19 Apr 22

One case of the new strain has been discovered in Ireland while a number of cases have been discovered in the North

New Omicron variant 10-20% more transmissible - expert

A new Omicron variant is about 10 to 20% more transmissible, according to sequencing data from the UK, where more than 1,000 cases have been identified.

Coronavirus • 18 Apr 22

Simply providing fresh jabs of existing Covid vaccines as new strains of the virus emerge is not the best way to fight the pandemic, says the group

Repeated Covid boosters not a viable strategy, says WHO

WHO experts have warned that repeating booster doses of the original Covid vaccines is not a viable strategy against emerging variants and called for new vaccines that better protect against transmission.

World • 11 Jan 22

Moderna said it was in active discussions for additional Covid-19 vaccine contracts this year

Moderna improves forecast for 2022 Covid vaccine sales

Moderna has said it expects to record sales of about $18.5 billion in 2022 from contracts for its Covid-19 vaccine, and about $3.5 billion from potential additional purchases including booster candidates updated for variants.

Business • 10 Jan 22

In a statement it said it expects a net loss of between €250 million and €450 million in the 12 months to the end of March

Ryanair doubles annual loss forecast over Omicron

Ryanair has more than doubled its annual loss forecast and cut its January traffic forecast by 33% due to the impact of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

Business • 22 Dec 21

It comes after the Department of Health announced eight more cases of the new variant have been detected in Ireland

11% of Covid cases due to Omicron variant - NPHET

The National Public Health Emergency Team estimates that 11% of Covid-19 cases in Ireland are now due to the Omicron variant.

Coronavirus • 13 Dec 21

New variant is considered highly transmissible

Early Omicron data indicates milder disease - WHO

Early data indicates the Omicron Covid variant may more easily reinfect people who have already had the virus or been vaccinated than previous variants, but could also cause milder disease, the WHO said today.

Coronavirus • 08 Dec 21

Omicron appears to be more infectious than Delta but more data is needed

Omicron: So many unknowns but here's what we do know

Officially first reported as B.1.1.529, it has the most mutations of any variant and has spread to most countries across the globe since first being detected in southern Africa in mid November.

Coronavirus • 04 Dec 21

Much remains unknown about Omicron, which has been detected in more than two dozen countries

WHO says not to panic - no deaths yet linked to Omicron

The World Health Organization's (WHO) chief scientist has urged people not to panic over the emergence of the Omicron coronavirus variant, adding that it was too early to say if Covid-19 vaccines would have to be modified to fight it.

Coronavirus • 03 Dec 21

The tests are ongoing to confirm the results against all of the Omicron mutations

GSK says tests show antibody drug works against Omicron

GlaxoSmithKline has said that a lab analysis of the antibody-based Covid-19 therapy it is developing with US partner Vir has shown the drug is effective against the new Omicron variant.

Business • 02 Dec 21

There are indications that Omicron could cause over half of all Covid-19 infections in the EU/EEA within the next few months

Omicron could account for half of EU cases in months

A new threat assessment from the European Centre for Disease Control said there are uncertainties around Omicron in terms of transmissibility, severity, and immune escape potential, though preliminary data suggests a substantial advantage over the Delta variant.

Coronavirus • 02 Dec 21

World Health Organization has said it will take several weeks to assess the threat posed by Omicron (File image)

Case of Omicron variant confirmed in Ireland

Tests have confirmed that a case of the Omicron coronavirus variant has been confirmed in Ireland.

Coronavirus • 01 Dec 21

Damien McCallion said positive cases will be routed to the National Virus Reference Laboratory for further testing

Results on suspect Covid samples expected tomorrow

Results are expected tomorrow on a number of Covid-19 samples being sequenced at the National Virus Reference Laboratory to see if any contain the Omicron variant of concern.

Coronavirus • 30 Nov 21

Michael O'Leary said he didn't see any risk to European air travel

Ryanair sees no reason to cancel flights over Omicron

Ryanair Group CEO Michael O'Leary has said he saw no reason to cancel flights because of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Business • 29 Nov 21

International travellers wearing PPE arrive at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport

Australia pauses border reopening plans

Australia has halted plans to reopen its international borders to skilled workers and students, citing concerns over the impact of the Covid-19 Omicron variant.

Coronavirus • 29 Nov 21

Omicron