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News headlines: Varadkar wants clearer data on Covid patients amid Delta threat; heatwaves makes way for heavy thunderstorms

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Tánaiste Leo Varadkar

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar

Health experts have been told to exclude Covid-positive patients from daily case figures if they are not in hospital because of the viral infection. Meanwhile, the heatwave is over as Met Éireann warns of thundery downpours leading to hazardous driving conditions and possible flooding today.

Varadkar demands extra clarity on hospital admissions

Health experts have been told to exclude Covid-positive patients from daily case figures if they are not in hospital because of the viral infection. Patients with appendicitis, for example, or an injury, but who happen to test positive for Covid-19, should be excluded from hospitalisation data, according to a Government letter sent to the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet).

Re-opening time: Pubs and restaurants ready to throw open doors

Workers across the hospitality sector have expressed mixed emotions as indoor service resumes for those who are fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19. Pubs are opening their doors after more than 16 months, while restaurants and gastro bars will be welcoming people inside for the first time since Christmas.

Majority in North oppose Troubles amnesty, says poll

An overwhelming majority of people in Northern Ireland oppose the UK government’s proposed Troubles amnesty, with nationalists proving significantly more against it than unionists. Seven in 10 people say they disagree with Downing Street’s plan to ban the prosecution of both military veterans and former paramilitaries, and to end legacy inquests and civil actions.

Heavy thunderstorms on the way as Met Éireann issue weather advisory

The heatwave was nice while it lasted – but it is about to give way to heavy showers which will possibly be thundery across the country today. Met Éireann has issued an advisory for heavy thundery showers for all areas of the country.

A right royal affair: Hopes new Colman film will bring another tourism boost to Kingdom

Olivia Colman (47) – who earned plaudits for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in the hit Netflix series The Crown – has sparked hopes of yet another money-spinning film tourism trail emerging in Kerry. The Academy Award-winning British actress is currently loving life in north Kerry as she shoots scenes for her new film Joyride.

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Bird’s eye view shows what it takes to face a Coast Guard rescue

The Irish Independent was last week granted a chance to see a day in the life of Rescue 116 on a practice flight. Ciara O'Loughlin reports.

Vaccine hesitancy is highest in 24-34 age group at 12pc – but overall figure still just 6pc

A small cohort of 6pc of adults say they will not take a Covid-19 vaccine, with resistance highest at 12pc in 24- to 34-year-olds, a new poll reveals today. In January, 7pc of adults said they would refuse a vaccine and although it fell slightly amid huge take-up, it has remained at 6pc over the summer months, the tracker poll from the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) shows.

Gardaí identify chief suspect in shooting attack on patrol car

Gardaí have identified a chief suspect who they believe fired a number of shots at a patrol car in south Dublin over the weekend. A gunman shot at gardaí while they were in the Rossfield area of Tallaght in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Health minister urges ‘common sense’ approach to indoor dining reopening amid surge of Delta cases

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said people should show “common sense” as hospitality reopens and not disregard personal precautions, which are “as important as ever” given the highly infectious Delta variant. “I’d like to wish the sector the best of luck as they open up again after such a difficult time,” he said.

Dublin fee-paying school ordered to pay €5,000 to teacher who allegedly called a male student ‘a little b***h’

A Dublin private fee paying school has been ordered to pay €5,000 compensation to a teacher who allegedly called a male student ‘a little b***h’. The €5,000 award to Pierce Dillon ordered by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) arises from a refusal by the Catholic University School on Dublin’s Leeson Street to allow Mr Dillon appeal a final written warning issued to him in April 2015.

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