Pandemic

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin Outbreaks driven by the Delta variant in Israel are being watched closely around the world. How will a population, where almost all adults are vaccinated, defend itself against the latest coronavirus threat? Amos Harel, Defence Analyst with the Israeli newspaper Haaretz looks at the approach to the rise in case rates.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin A seven year conflict, mass malnutrition and a cholera epidemic: How is Yemen coping with the added strain of Covid-19? MSF/Doctors Without Border Head of Mission in Sana'a Ahmed Mahat gives Pandemic an up-close view from Yemen.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin EU leaders meet amid mounting concern over the Delta variant of the virus & the strange and tragic case of Juergen Conings – the trained sniper who caused a nationwide manhunt in Belgium after stealing weapons with the apparent intention of targeting a leading virologist. Europe Editor Tony Connelly has the details.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin After 20 years of war and over half the country living in poverty, Afghanistan has been hit with a third wave - its worst yet - of Govid-19. Pandemic spoke to Rohullah Sorush of the Afghan Analysts' Network in Kabul, author of a recent detailed briefing paper on the impact of the virus.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin Having kept its death rate below 10 until March, Taiwan has seen cases of Covid-19 and deaths soar since May. One year on from our last conversation in better times, Bloomberg's Taipei Bureau Chief Samson Ellis has a detailed look at what has gone wrong.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin Did Sars-CoV-2 leak from a lab? The WHO says it's unlikely, so why is the US President talking about this theory now? To discuss this and more, Pandemic spoke to Shane Harris, who covers intelligence and national security for the The Washington Post (and hosts the Rational Security podcast)

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin If delayed supplies of the Astra Zeneca or Janssen vaccines arrive when younger people still need to be vaccinated, could they sign a waiver to take them for quick access to doses? Medical law expert Simon Mills SC gives his view and looks at some other legal issues that have arisen during the course of a pandemic.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin An expert group - the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response - produced a blunt report on global response to Covid-19 and strong recommendations for dealing with the next pandemic. We have a detailed look at the report with panel member Dr Joanne Liu, a former president of MSF/Doctors Without Borders.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin India's runaway coronavirus rates have led to scenes the WHO has described as "beyond heartbreaking". Journalist Nilanjana Bhowmick gave Pandemic an overview of how the crisis evolved and ultimately came to her family's door.

Host Colm Ó Mongáin Gaza-based journalist, producer and cameraman Fady Hanona tells Pandemic how Covid-19 and the lockdown have affected an already-impoverished Gaza strip, why vaccines are urgently needed and about the effects on his family.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin Hungary is using seven different vaccines and has given first doses to nearly half of its population. So why are case rates and fatalities still so high? Science journalist and documentary maker Kata Karáth has an in-depth look at how the country has handled the pandemic.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin Reaching conflict zones with vaccines and relief is a major international challenge. Despite its divisions, what role could the UN Security Council, on which Ireland now sits, play in the aid effort? Richard Gowan, UN Director of the International Crisis Group joins us to discuss his view on what the UNSC should do.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin Israel's leads the world in vaccination rates by some distance. What impact has it had? Will it roll out surplus vaccines more widely to Palestinians in the Occupied Territories under its control? Pandemic has an in-depth look at these questions and more with the defence analyst with Israel's Haaretz newspaper Amos Harel.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin Why has Astra Zeneca honoured its contract with the UK more than the one agreed with the EU? For a detailed look, Pandemic talked to Gavin Barrett, Professor at UCD Sutherland School of Law and Jean Monnet Professor of European Constitutional and Economic Law.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin Europe Editor Tony Connelly has a detailed look at the European Medicines Agency's thumbs-up for Astra Zeneca after several countries suspended use of the vaccine due to concerns over possible links to blood clots.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin The contrast of the EU's vaccine programme with those of the UK and Israel is generating frustration in member states. So what's a fair assessment of the bloc's centralised procurement plan? This week Senior Fellow with the Petersen Institute for International Economics Jacob Kirkegaard gives his view.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin Joe Biden made tackling the coronavirus a big plank of his presidential campaign - now he has the opportunity to show he can do it. Washington Correspondent Brian O'Donovan looks at the challenges facing him. 

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin Murder is an emotive word. Could it -should it- ever be applied to policy failures in handling a pandemic? Could "social murder" be more appropriate? Kamran Abbasi, Executive Editor of the British Medical Journal, thinks there is an need for strong language, as he wrote in the BMJ. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n314

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin The WHO's Dr Mike Ryan called on rich countries to prioritise vaccinating the vulnerable in the developing world before their own younger, healthier citizens. We hear from MSF's Southern Africa Advocacy Co-ordinator on why vaccine supply has to be the right vaccine for the dominant local variant, not just any vaccine. 

The EU's approach to vaccination has attracted flak of some member states and MEP's, so European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen faced the European Parliament to explain the Commission's approach. Europe Editor Tony Connelly has a detailed look.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin Russia's Sputnik V vaccine received a glowing review in The Lancet this week. One of the article's authors, Professor Polly Roy of London of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine explains how it works, its benefits and why her initial concerns over transparency have been addressed.  

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin Israel is rolling out vaccinations apace. Haaretz journalist Amos Harel analyses the politics, pressures and successes of the programme.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin One year on from the complete lockdown in Wuhan, the WHO's inquiry team is in town. What can they find out? RTÉ reporter Yvonne Murray looks at the limits of the mission and China's alternative virus narrative.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin In this episode we hear from Ross Galvin and Patrick Quinn Byrne - two young people infected in the latest upsurge. Both were interviewed by RTÉ's Sharon Tobin.

Colm talks to doctor, sociologist & Yale University Sterling Professor of Social & Natural Science Nicholas Christakis. His new book is 'Apollo's Arrow – The Profound and Enduring Impact of Coronavirus on the Way We Live' which looks at human behaviour, from our ancestors' reaction to ancient plagues, to how we are coping with Covid-19.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin Dimitri Eynikel, EU Policy Advisor to MSF/Doctors Without Borders Access Campaign on the need for vaccines for low and middle income countries.  Also: Health Psychologist & QUB lecturer Dr Emma Berry on the findings of a survey in Northern Ireland looking at young people's compliance with social distancing rules.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin  Science Correspondent George Lee on the challenging post-Level 5 numbers & plans for vaccine roll-out. Also: Dr Gerald Rockenschauber, Head of the WHO in the Occupied Palestinian Territories discusses the troubling rise of the virus on the Gaza strip.

Host Colm Ó Mongáin For this episode, we're bringing you edited audio of a Q & A session for Irish journalists hosted by the Bar Council of Ireland with Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO. He talks about his background, looks at different approaches to tackling Covid-19, looks at the risks of gathering at Christmas and more.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin Guests: Prof. Louise Kenny Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at the University of Liverpool on the city's mass antigen testing programme. ÖRF Journalist John Cummins on Austria's lockdown. Also: Efforts to reduce the spread of Covid-19 have stalled - Science Correspondent George Lee has the latest.

Rob Cameron has an in-depth look at Slovakia's decision to test most of its population. Education Correspondent Emma O'Kelly has a mid-term look at how schools are coping with Covid. Also: Science Correspondent George Lee looks at the direction of Ireland's numbers and the fate of Denmark's mink.

'Long Covid' and the limbo in which it leaves sufferers - we talk to Dr Elaine Maxwell, clinical advisor to the UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Dissemination Centre. Also: Belgium's rapid rise in case numbers. Our Europe Editor Tony Connelly goes to the region one doctor fears could be "the new Lombardy".

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin How safe are schools? Is the contact tracing system coping with the added strain? We look at some of the answers offered at the weekly NPHET briefing and talk to Science Correspondent George Lee. Also: Journalist Michael Tatarski gives us an in-depth account of how Vietnam has kept its Covid stats low.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin New Level 3 & Level 4 restrictions are in place amid troubling coronavirus statistics. Science Correspondent George Lee analyses the trends and News Reporter Sharon Tobin digs into the detail on the new measures. Also: Reporting for RTÉ from China, Yvonne Murray has an in-depth look at how the country has suppressed the virus.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin NPHET locks horns with Government over restrictions - Political Correspondent Micheál Lehane on the controversy of the week. Northern Correspondent Vincent Kearney on the growing concern in Northern Ireland Also: What happened 'the little country that could'? Rob Cameron looks in-depth at Czechia's change of fortunes.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin Health Correspondent Fergal Bowers on NPHET's advice to limit contacts before it becomes necessary for further restrictions.  Also: Dr Halim Boubaker, Medical Coordinator for NW Syria with MSF speaks about a rapid rise in Covid-19 cases in an area already dealing with war and acute humanitarian challenges.

Political Correspondent Micheál Lehane and Science Correspondent George Lee on the background to Donegal going to level 3. Also: Haaretz's Amos Harel has an in-depth look as Israel's second lockdown. Christian Aid CEO Rosamund Bennett outlines why Covid-19 has brought together 6 NGO's to help 7 vulnerable regions. 

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin As Dublin goes to Level 3 and public health officials ramp up concerns, Health Correspondent Fergal Bowers has a full round-up. Also, guest interviewee Monica Gandhi,  Professor of Medicine at the University of California San Francisco looks at why fatality rates are not climbing in line with infection rates.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin Former UK Foreign Secretary, now CEO of the International Rescue Committee, David Miliband highlights the danger of rising coronavirus cases in Northeastern Syria, where thousands of people displaced by war are packed into camps. Also: Health Correspondent Fergal Bowers has an in-depth look at the Covid-19 numbers in Ireland.

Sarah Covington, Eileen Sprague, Liza Engesser & Claire Butler tell Colm Ó Mongáin about Queens College/CUNY's oral history of Irish immigrants' experiences, incl life during the Covid-19 pandemic. More info: www.qcirishstudies.org/oral-histories www.instagram.com/irishnystories/ www.twitter.com/irishnystories www.facebook.com/IrishNYStories

Pandemic is back next week. RTÉ News US Election podcast States Of Mind heads to Delaware. Howard Dean, ex Chair of the Democratic National Committee, on healthy infighting and the party's virtual convention. Former Washington Correspondent, Robert Shortt also lays bare what conventions are really all about.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin RTÉ Political Reporter Mary Regan rounds up the day at the Oireachtas Covid Committee. Health Correspondent Fergal Bowers crunches the numbers. Journalist and author Anshel Pfeffer talks to Pandemic from Israel on politics and the second surge.

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin Correspondent Órla O'Donnell has an in-depth look at the latest NPHET briefing. Also, Irish graduate Donal O'Criodain talks to Pandemic about South Korea's rigorous quarantine system.

Colm Ó Mongáin gets the latest from Correspondent Sinéad Crowley in the week the lifting of phases was paused. Also: Bríd McGrath on the very locked down lockdown in Chile and the International Organisation on Migration's Olivia Headon on the thousands of Ethiopian migrants stranded in Yemen.

Colm Ó Mongáin talks to Bloomberg Taipei Bureau Chief Samson Ellis about Taiwan's low profile success in fighting the effects of coronavirus. Foreign Reporter Jackie Fox speaks to Irish people facing into another lockdown in Melbourne. Also: Correspondent Sinéad Crowley has the latest on travel, masks and the R number.

Correspondent Sinéad Crowley gives a round up of the Department of Health briefing, including the sad news that CMO Tony Holohan is to step aside due to a family illness. Also: Education Correspondent Emma O'Kelly has a detailed look at the issues facing schools returning in the Autumn.

Colm Ó Mongáin is joined for the half century by Political Correspondent Micheál Lehane on the latest cabinet briefing on masks, mass and more. Health Correspondent Fergal Bowers hears sobering statements at the Covid Committee. Washington Correspondent Brian O'Donovan rounds up the testing times for the US.

Presenter: Colm Ó Mongáin Our Science Correspondent George Lee on masks and their usage. Childcare to open at the end of the month - what are the proposals? Political Reporter Mary Regan has a look. Also: Deficiencies in Traveller accommodation highlighted by Covid-19. Tallaght Travellers Manager Patrick Nevin on past & present issues.

Presenter: Colm Ó Mongáin. Correspondent Sinéad Crowley and Political Correspondent Paul Cunningham on some of the restrictions being lifted on Monday. Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde on her country's approach to Covid 19. And the children confirm they didn't smash anything.

Colm Ó Mongáin talks to Roy O'Donovan and John Collins from the Association of Catholic Priests about funerals, ministering to the sick and life in the lockdown. Political Correspondent Paul Cunningham looks over the debate over Pandemic Unemployment Payment and easing restrictions. Also: Correspondent Sinéad Crowley talks summer camps and more.

Colm Ó Mongáin talks masks to Health Correspondent Fergal Bowers. Business Reporter Adam Maguire looks at contact tracing apps & the concerns surrounding them. Europe Editor Tony Connelly looks at Sweden's famous epidemiologist Anders Tegnell's admission that the country could have done better.

Colm Ó Mongáin talks to Health Correspondent Fergal Bowers about the appearence of hospital consultants' representatives at the Dáil Covid Committee. Also: Dr Pete Lunn, head of the ESRI's Behavioural Research Unit on the challenges of behaviour as restrictions ease.