NEED TO CATCH up? TheJournal.ie brings you a round-up of today’s news.

IRELAND

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, and Minister for Transport and Environment Eamon Ryan. Sam Boal Sam Boal

• Barbers and hairdressers described the level of demand as “Christmas on steroids”, as businesses (including the pubs) re-opened as part of Phase Three
• Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan asked that people consider cancelling holidays abroad to help prevent the spread of Covid-19
• Micheál Martin said that he had a “limited choice” when appointing people to Cabinet, as his deputy Dara Calleary said he was heartened by the support he had received
• Senior Gardaí said the Kinahan crime cartel have “wreaked havoc” on communities in Dublin’s North Inner City after the conviction of three men today
• The mandatory use of face coverings on public transport is “likely” to be enforced through fines
• The family of Noah Donohoe led tributes to the 14-year-old boy.

WORLD

Hospital employees leave Brazil's Pacaembu field hospital, after it was officially closed now that bed occupancy rates have fallen below 50%. Marcelo Chello Marcelo Chello

#USA: Texas’ battle against Covid-19 has taken a “dangerous turn”, as bars in LA were ordered to close amid a worsening outbreak.

#UK: The Covid-19 pandemic has been an “absolute nightmare” and a “disaster” for the UK, Boris Johnson said, as he promised a “whack-a-mole” strategy to tackling local flare-ups of the virus 

PARTING SHOT

Of all the new normals we have seen, this might be one of our favourites: a Clare County Board meeting, held in the stands of Cusack Park – with Clare GAA officials seated on a lorry truck.

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom…