The top four things you need to know now

The main stories making the headlines across Cork

Over 300,000 children are returning to school today for the first time this year. 

Classes will resume for the first four years of primary school and leaving cert students. 

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Far-right extremists have gained a huge pool of new recruits among the members of rapidly growing social media groups, pushing conspiracy theories about the pandemic according to a researcher on disinformation, who says Saturday's riot in Dublin followed the same pattern as the attack on the US Capitol in Washington in January. 

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There have been calls for another protest against the public health restrictions in Cork next weekend to be banned. 

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Top public health officials say the national effort against Covid-19 is working -- and Ireland is on track to have one of the lowest infection rates in Europe. 

NPHET says it's "understandable" public enthusiasm has waned -- but there's more reason for hope now than at any time in the last year. 

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