Pandemic

By RTÉ News

What's Pandemic about?

COVID19 is having devastating effect on lives and economies in Ireland and around the world. In the 'Pandemic' podcast, RTÉ's reporters will bring you the latest news and analysis on the pandemic.

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Pandemic episodes:

07.08.2021
Ep. 93 Delta Blues In Israel
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,...
07.01.2021
Ep. 92 Yemen's War: Covid In A Time Of Cholera
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...
06.24.2021
Ep. 91 EU's Delta Blues
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...
06.17.2021
Ep. 90 Afghanistan - The Third Wave
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...
06.10.2021
Ep. 89 One Year on - Taiwan's Spike
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...
06.03.2021
Ep. 88 Bats, Leaks and Spooks
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...
05.27.2021
Ep. 88 Time To Waiver?
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...
05.20.2021
Ep. 87 Covid-19: The Chernobyl Moment?
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...
04.29.2021
Ep. 86 India's Second Wave Tragedy
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.
04.22.2021
Ep. 85 Gaza - A Cameraman's Story
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.
04.15.2021
Ep. 84 The Hungarian Paradox
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...
04.08.2021
Ep. 83 After The Resolution
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...
04.01.2021
Ep. 82 The Crystal Ball
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...
03.25.2021
Ep. 81 Contract Crash Course
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...
03.18.2021
Ep. 80 Ad Astra
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.
03.11.2021
Ep.79 Edifying Discourses
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...
03.04.2021
Ep. 78 This Time Last Year, This Time Next Year
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.
02.24.2021
Ep. 77 "Social Murder"
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...
02.18.2021
Ep. 76 To Each According To Their Need
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...
02.11.2021
Ep 75. When EU're explaining...
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.
02.04.2021
Ep. 74 Is Sputnik Ready For Take-Off?
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,...
01.28.2021
Ep. 73 Israel's Vaccine Scene
Host: Colm Ó Mongáin Israel is rolling out vaccinations apace. Haaretz journalist Amos Harel analyses the politics, pressures and successes of the programme.
01.21.2021
Ep. 72 WHO's In Wuhan
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...
01.14.2021
Ep. 71 Voices From The Christmas Surge
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.
01.07.2021
Ep. 70 Ancient Problems, New Solutions?
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...
12.17.2020
Ep. 69 Access To Vaccines
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...
12.03.2020
Ep. 68 Vaccination Once Again
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...
11.26.2020
Ep. 67 Dr WHO
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...
11.19.2020
Ep. 66 Anything To Be Said For A Mass Test?
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...
11.06.2020
Ep. 65 Slovakia's Big Test
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...
10.30.2020
Ep. 64 Long Covid Limbo & Liège
'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...
10.23.2020
Ep. 63 Mid-Term Bleak
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. ...
10.15.2020
Ep. 62 Irish Peaks, Chinese Troughs
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:...
10.08.2020
Ep. 61 Czech Your Contacts
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 ...
10.01.2020
Ep. 60 "There's Still Time To Turn It Around"
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...
09.25.2020
Ep. 59 Levelling Up
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...
09.17.2020
Ep. 58 Hamster Masks
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...
09.03.2020
Ep. 57 Fears For Al Hol
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. ...
08.27.2020
Ep. 56 Making Covid History
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
08.17.2020
States of Mind
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...
08.13.2020
Ep. 55 From The Epicentre
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...
08.06.2020
Ep. 54 From The Heart Of Seoul
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.
07.16.2020
Podcast: Ep. 53 A Pause
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...
07.09.2020
Ep. 52 Taiwan's Quiet Success
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...
07.02.2020
Ep. 51 Hard Questions For Schools
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...
06.25.2020
Ep. 50 The Cabinet In The Castle
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...
06.10.2020
Ep. 49 The Mask
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...
06.05.2020
Ep.48 Restrictions Lifted And Silence Broken
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.
06.04.2020
Ep. 47 Mass Lockdown
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...
06.03.2020
Ep. 46 The App-heap Of History
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...

What's Pandemic about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Pandemic episodes:

Ep. 93 Delta Blues In Israel

Ep. 92 Yemen's War: Covid In A Time Of Cholera

Ep. 91 EU's Delta Blues

Ep. 90 Afghanistan - The Third Wave

Ep. 89 One Year on - Taiwan's Spike

Ep. 88 Bats, Leaks and Spooks

Ep. 88 Time To Waiver?

Ep. 87 Covid-19: The Chernobyl Moment?

Ep. 86 India's Second Wave Tragedy

Ep. 85 Gaza - A Cameraman's Story

Ep. 84 The Hungarian Paradox

Ep. 83 After The Resolution

Ep. 82 The Crystal Ball

Ep. 81 Contract Crash Course

Ep. 80 Ad Astra

Ep.79 Edifying Discourses

Ep. 78 This Time Last Year, This Time Next Year

Ep. 77 "Social Murder"

Ep. 76 To Each According To Their Need

Ep 75. When EU're explaining...

Ep. 74 Is Sputnik Ready For Take-Off?

Ep. 73 Israel's Vaccine Scene

Ep. 72 WHO's In Wuhan

Ep. 71 Voices From The Christmas Surge

Ep. 70 Ancient Problems, New Solutions?

Ep. 69 Access To Vaccines

Ep. 68 Vaccination Once Again

Ep. 67 Dr WHO

Ep. 66 Anything To Be Said For A Mass Test?

Ep. 65 Slovakia's Big Test

Ep. 64 Long Covid Limbo & Liège

Ep. 63 Mid-Term Bleak

Ep. 62 Irish Peaks, Chinese Troughs

Ep. 61 Czech Your Contacts

Ep. 60 "There's Still Time To Turn It Around"

Ep. 59 Levelling Up

Ep. 58 Hamster Masks

Ep. 57 Fears For Al Hol

Ep. 56 Making Covid History

States of Mind

Ep. 55 From The Epicentre

Ep. 54 From The Heart Of Seoul

Podcast: Ep. 53 A Pause

Ep. 52 Taiwan's Quiet Success

Ep. 51 Hard Questions For Schools

Ep. 50 The Cabinet In The Castle

Ep. 49 The Mask

Ep.48 Restrictions Lifted And Silence Broken

Ep. 47 Mass Lockdown

Ep. 46 The App-heap Of History