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Deborah Cross gives an injection of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine to clinical nurse manager Bernie Waterhouse at St James's Hospital in Dublin. AFP
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Access to Salthill beach is closed amid the spread of coronavirus in Galway, Ireland. Reuters
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Emergency ambulances at a Dublin City Hospital. Ireland is currently witnessing a surge of Covid-19 cases after the Christmas season. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UPRB7NK4NAO2PCY3N5NLK4XWEY.jpg?smart=true&auth=42a4f83103e7e133d6835d8dde4a2d7bd95b841bb04f3f92000ab14ff842592c&width=400&height=225)
An empty city centre in Galway, Ireland. Reuters
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Catholic worshippers protest with prayer by participating in a rosary rally on New Year's Day outside Galway Cathedral asking for the return of public Mass. Reuters
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79 year old Annie Lynch from Dublin pictured after being the first person to receive the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in Ireland, on 29 December 2020. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F2KTYGTLOZWP3G2D6JYZ5NM5UY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5a4086a3cb73c06e06462aa9504319bedcb5cc10c79bbd3565d55f70c673fb5e&width=400&height=225)
Pedestrians shop on December 31 in advance of a new coronavirus lockdown in Dublin. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/335KHTKZ2HQ34B24RAF3VBWXHA.jpg?smart=true&auth=73d408a9ab9024b1e4fa34fdd1c10ce08d0925702c9be56d833fa92aa81d5951&width=400&height=225)
Members of the public walk down a quiet shopping street in Dublin on December 31. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WGVANUYESXPRGBVX25CKKR4JJU.jpg?smart=true&auth=fe3ea98c8cc1e1577a43e2402460eab2a678b88d9689045237d16fefef556545&width=400&height=225)
Deborah Cross gives an injection of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine to clinical nurse manager Bernie Waterhouse at St James's Hospital in Dublin. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TMV2I3YHEWCQZL66O3J5E42JGA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d970ee8dac10eabf42e59e5ec63f158bf17211defbdc6ef1b1592e8953ea4a1f&width=400&height=225)
Access to Salthill beach is closed amid the spread of coronavirus in Galway, Ireland. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OLLPTXQUI6VT2Q2VOXXB5FB5PE.jpg?smart=true&auth=a311fe1d593aa7521a81e682a71ff04ebb80ea77405bdf821af038990d6ee442&width=400&height=225)
Emergency ambulances at a Dublin City Hospital. Ireland is currently witnessing a surge of Covid-19 cases after the Christmas season. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UPRB7NK4NAO2PCY3N5NLK4XWEY.jpg?smart=true&auth=42a4f83103e7e133d6835d8dde4a2d7bd95b841bb04f3f92000ab14ff842592c&width=400&height=225)
An empty city centre in Galway, Ireland. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VUEQF6SEXZXEJ7NLCM5D7PZDPE.jpg?smart=true&auth=a2427c83818107f69ffb6bff1a39f068dcf310a4c784bbdb7eb4e732fa4f7b85&width=400&height=225)
Catholic worshippers protest with prayer by participating in a rosary rally on New Year's Day outside Galway Cathedral asking for the return of public Mass. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NI2IT37XNFDFJDYAS2COS4LA2A.jpg?smart=true&auth=f2448bb6898327acb84d8209761a223e4a9dd05e0c7553e3fb2326b6c4e957d4&width=400&height=225)
79 year old Annie Lynch from Dublin pictured after being the first person to receive the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in Ireland, on 29 December 2020. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F2KTYGTLOZWP3G2D6JYZ5NM5UY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5a4086a3cb73c06e06462aa9504319bedcb5cc10c79bbd3565d55f70c673fb5e&width=400&height=225)
Pedestrians shop on December 31 in advance of a new coronavirus lockdown in Dublin. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/335KHTKZ2HQ34B24RAF3VBWXHA.jpg?smart=true&auth=73d408a9ab9024b1e4fa34fdd1c10ce08d0925702c9be56d833fa92aa81d5951&width=400&height=225)
Members of the public walk down a quiet shopping street in Dublin on December 31. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WGVANUYESXPRGBVX25CKKR4JJU.jpg?smart=true&auth=fe3ea98c8cc1e1577a43e2402460eab2a678b88d9689045237d16fefef556545&width=400&height=225)
Deborah Cross gives an injection of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine to clinical nurse manager Bernie Waterhouse at St James's Hospital in Dublin. AFP
Ireland has world’s highest Covid infection rate after flood of new cases
Health workers who had close contact with coronavirus patients invited back to front line
Brodie Owen
13 January, 2021
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