LAST UPDATE | 16 Oct 2020

EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you all the news you need to know as you start the day.

1. #COVID-19: If new restrictions coming into force from tonight have no effect on the spread of the coronavirus, it’s forecast that there will be between 1,800-2,200 Covid-19 cases a day, and over 400 people with Covid-19 in hospital by Halloween. 

2. #LEVEL 4: Counties Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan are now under Level 4 Covid-19 restrictions after the government’s announcement from Tuesday has come into effect.

3. #POLICING PLAN: An Garda Síochána has said it has launched a policing plan taking effect from 7am this morning to midnight on Sunday to support public health guidelines. 

4. #CHINA: A Chinese Covid-19 vaccine candidate is safe and elicits an antibody response, findings from a small early-phase randomised clinical trial published today have found. 

5. #OUTBREAKS: GPs have said a number of Covid-19 outbreaks have been linked to post-GAA match celebrations and family gatherings.

6. #UNITED STATES: President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden squared off, in a way, last night as their scuttled second debate was replaced by duelling televised town halls.

7. #BREXIT: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to set out whether trade talks with the European Union should continue after his own deadline for reaching an agreement passed without a deal in place.

8. #ANTI-MASK PROTESTERS: Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has criticised anti-mask demonstrators, saying they were also part of a group that “tried to overturn” his car at the Eid al-Adha celebration in Croke Park earlier this year. 

9. WEATHER: The forecast is a bit of a mixed bag with today and tomorrow set to be dry and bright, but Sunday will see outbreaks of persistent rain to set a tone of unsettled weather heading into next week.