Taoiseach urges 'unique resilience' in face of Omicron threat

Punters enjoying pints at The Old Market Bar, Bandon, Co Cork, as Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced the new 8pm closing restrictions on the hospitality sector. 

Taoiseach Mícheál Martin has appealed to the public to use its “unique resilience, solidarity, and trust in science” to stop the unprecedented threat of the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus.

Announcing a raft of new restrictions, Mr Martin said the new strain, if left unchecked, “represents a very significant threat to hospital and critical care, but also a threat to all of society and the economy”.