A looming spike in coronavirus infections and hospitalisations due to the Omicron variant, along with potential new restrictions, dominate Thursday's front pages.
The State’s public health team will meet today to discuss tightening rules with restrictions on large sporting events and hospitality, according to The Irish Times, with warnings about large family gatherings and house parties also under consideration.
The Irish Examiner meanwhile leads with a warning from Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly that Covid-19 hospitalisations could match or even exceed the spike seen last January as Omicron becomes the dominant variant here.
No sign of property prices slowing down any time soon... For all this and lots more, pick up Thursday's Irish Daily Mail or click on https://t.co/7yQSg4uXrF pic.twitter.com/buQW8i3DQr
Advertisement— The Irish Daily Mail (@irishdailymail) December 16, 2021
The Irish Daily Mail takes a look at house prices, after residential property prices jumped by 13.5 per cent according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The jailing of Alan Wilson, who was named in court as a member of the Kinahan crime gang, for his role in a plot to murder three men outside the Player's Lounge pub in 2010 is the focus of the Irish Daily Star's front page.
Thursday’s edition includes free Champions League stickers and super soccer pullout pic.twitter.com/AX4oxantp6
— Irish Daily Star (@IsFearrAnStar) December 16, 2021
The lead story in The Irish Sun features the announcement from Jess Redden that she tested positive for Covid-19 just days into her honeymoon with rugby star husband Rob Kearney.
Good morning. Here is today's front page of The Irish Sun.#BuyAPaper pic.twitter.com/iJo3fr19Ce
— The Irish Sun (@IrishSunOnline) December 16, 2021
Meanwhile, front pages in the UK are led by calls to rein in Christmas celebrations in an effort to combat the spread of the Omicron variant.
British chief medical officer Chris Whitty’s warning to not “mix with people you don’t have to” as the Omicron crisis escalates in Britain is the top story in the i.
Don't mix with friends unless you have to#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/iTZokRBd1j
— i newspaper (@theipaper) December 15, 2021
The Daily Mirror says Britons have been urged to “rein in partying as Omicron cases surge”.
Tomorrow's front page: New variant crisis - Wary Xmas https://t.co/mir8O8gn3x #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/wHkMgYeWsu
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) December 15, 2021
The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Times and the Daily Mail also cover the story, with the latter adding that the British prime minister is not cancelling his own Christmas plans.
Guardian front page, Thursday 16 December, 2021; Warning to cut back on socialising as Covid cases surge to record high pic.twitter.com/RXYqmGQD8z
— Guardian news (@guardiannews) December 15, 2021
🗞️The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
'Scale back Christmas plans'#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/C8s6pCD0q7— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) December 15, 2021
TIMES: Cut back on Christmas says Whitty #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/BBLbDRITuI
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) December 15, 2021
Thursday's @DailyMailUK #MailFrontPages pic.twitter.com/DG6MwmmBoe
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) December 15, 2021
The Daily Express reports Boris Johnson is also calling for “sensible” Christmas festivities.
EXPRESS: Wishing Britain a very sensible Xmas #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/jPa8pCeCgZ
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) December 15, 2021
Meanwhile, Metro leads with David Fuller’s jail sentence for murder and the sexual assault of over 100 dead bodies.
Thursday's front page:
MORTUARY VULTURE TO DIE IN JAIL#TomorrowsPapersToday #BBCPapers #skypapers pic.twitter.com/8dIkkGH0gH— Metro US (@MetroUS) December 15, 2021
The Financial Times leads with Covid cases in the UK hitting a record 78,000 “as Omicron sweeps the country”.
FT UK: Covid cases hit record 78,000 as Omicron sweeps the country #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/z28UQSIV0I
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) December 15, 2021
Elsewhere, The Sun carries the Katie Price court verdict after she rolled her car while drink and drug driving.
Tomorrow's front page: Katie Price avoids jail for a booze and cocaine-fuelled car crash during her sixth road ban https://t.co/2dYhLxIpqr pic.twitter.com/fGEtghHXyd
— The Sun (@TheSun) December 15, 2021
And the Daily Star features a rather different front page, reporting that “world expert” Danny Dyer believes in aliens.
Tomorrow's front page: Aliens are among us! #tomorrowspaperstodayhttps://t.co/uuvdxW8Y4B pic.twitter.com/heep8SAnP0
— Daily Star (@dailystar) December 15, 2021
