In the latest episode of Morning Ireland Extra, Cian McCormack checked in with scientists he'd spoken to earlier about the development of a Covid-19 vaccine. He looks at the science, the manufacturing and the ethics

Nursing home owner tells of distress over Covid deaths; FG and FF agree roadmap to form Govt; Irishman questioned over Covid scam; Food producers under pressure; Increase in illegal dumping; Struggle of people with disabilities during Covid restrictions; Health insurers part-reimburse premiums; 'Ireland Remembers'; Postcards from our listeners

Cian McCormack spoke to Angela Roberts, originally from Dublin but who has worked as an operating room nurse in New York for the past 23 years, and to Michael Dowling, CEO of Northwell Health, one of the largest healthcare providers in New York state

Morning Ireland Extra: Cian McCormack speaks to members of the Irish community in New York and hears about the work they're doing to help those on the frontline

This week: Covid-19 latest Prof Clíona Ní Cheallaigh (0:08); ICU capacity Dr Colman O'Loughlin (05:32); IVF treatment (15:07); Pink Supermoon (21:45); Boris Johnson in ICU (25:58); Govt formation (31:55); Sporting memory Barry McGuigan (38:25); Nursing Home families (42:18); Extending Covid-19 restrictions (48:59) entertaining viral videos (58:44)

How can you shop safely? Should you wash your groceries down when you get home? Cian McCormack spoke to Niall Roche, of the Irish Global Health Network and TCD, as well as Dylan H Morris, a PhD candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University

Covid cases continue to rise (00:08); Central Bank's stark predictions (090:5); What is cocooning? (15:52); measures; Challenges faced by Travelling community in Covid crisis (27:37); Irish medtech industry responds to pandemic (35:44); How to survive the lockdown (43:04); Packie Bonner - a great sporting moment (48:34)

Standout stories from the week, chosen by the Morning Ireland team: Latest stats on Covid-19; Govt passes emergency legislation; Opera goes online; What happened in Italy?; Trump says coronavirus over by Easter; McDonalds shuts outlets; Museums and galleries get creative; You Can't Call In But You Can Call

Morning Ireland Extra: Our expert panel is Dr Nuala O'Connor, Cork GP and the ICGP lead advisor on Covid-19, Prof Mary Horgan, President of RCPI and Consultant in Infectious Diseases at CUH, and Kingston Mills, Prof of Experimental Immunology at TCD

Morning Ireland Extra: Cian McCormack joined in on a WhatsApp conversation between Mick Rush and T. P. O'Gorman to find out more about a new campaign launched by the Irish Men's Sheds Association