Close the bars. Open the schools. Public health experts have been repeating this same refrain since the summer, when many states and cities reopened businesses like bars, restaurants, and gyms — all areas where the coronavirus is thought to spread readily — without a clear plan to reopen school buildings. And the call has only … Continue reading "Why restaurants are open and schools are closed"

As confirmed coronavirus cases rise to their highest levels since the pandemic began, hospitals across the country are reporting critical staff shortages. And those shortages may only grow worse in the weeks to come, as thousands of the 1 million Americans diagnosed with Covid-19 in the past week begin to require hospitalization. According to an … Continue reading "As coronavirus cases surge, hospitals are beginning to be overwhelmed"

THE TYRONE LADIES have appointed Seán O’Kane as the new manager ahead of their Division 2 relegation play-off against Clare in three weeks. The previous manager, Kevin McCrystal, stepped down from the position on Sunday following a mixed start to their 2022 campaign. Speaking to Gaelic Life about his exit, McCrystal explained that the players “decided … Continue reading "Tyrone Ladies appoint experienced new manager ahead of relegation play-off in three weeks"

Just last week, Pfizer and BioNTech revealed that their experimental Covid-19 vaccine, called BNT162b2, was at least 90 percent effective in an early analysis. On Wednesday, the pharmaceutical and biotech companies reported that their vaccine was even more effective after it cleared more clinical trial benchmarks for safety and efficacy. And on Friday, they said … Continue reading "Pfizer and BioNTech have applied for emergency approval for their Covid-19 vaccine"

More than 100 disasters — many of which were climate- and weather-related — have affected more than 50 million people around the world since March, when the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. And though the money needed to protect against these disasters in the countries at risk exists, it’s not getting … Continue reading "Natural disasters are increasing. The world’s poorest are left to fend for themselves."

When the Covid-19 pandemic forced much of the US to lock down in the spring of 2020, officials and experts worried the necessary social distancing measures would make another public health crisis — the opioid epidemic — worse. Addiction treatment is traditionally done in person, and restrictions on gatherings and closed businesses would make it … Continue reading "“The stakes are life and death”: Addiction treatment’s Covid-19 challenge"

With two Covid-19 vaccine candidates expected to be approved for the US market in the coming weeks, a group of experts met Tuesday to advise on which Americans should be immunized first. In a 13-1 vote, they put health care personnel and staff and residents of long-term care facilities at the front of the line. … Continue reading "Who will get the Covid-19 vaccine first? A CDC advisory panel just weighed in."

Joe Biden will become the US president during an extraordinary moment in history, one that could very well prove to be the calm before the storm, a brief prelude to dissolution and illiberalism. Trump’s bid to become a full-on authoritarian failed, but Democrats could easily lose the House in a 2022 backlash. Biden could face … Continue reading "Joe Biden should do everything at once"

THE GPA HAVE released a detailed statement this evening as the dispute with the GAA over player expenses continues. Written by Wexford hurler and GPA National Executive Committee Co-Chair Matthew O’Hanlon, the GPA chief insists it is false to suggest that the group would be happy to allow over training continue. The statement also questions … Continue reading "GPA chief insists ‘false’ to suggest they ‘would be happy to allow over training’"

The United Kingdom on Wednesday granted temporary authorization for emergency use of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech to adults age 16 and older, with the first 800,000 doses of the two-dose vaccine slated to be offered in the country next week. This makes the UK the first country to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech … Continue reading "The UK is the first country to grant emergency approval to Pfizer and BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine"