Covid is currently at record levels in Ireland.

No new restrictions are expected to be introduced, following the latest advice from NPHET to the government.

Thursday saw the confirmation of 23,817 new cases of Covid in Ireland. Amongst those cases are 941 hospitalisations, including 90 people who are in ICU. While new Covid figures have consistently broken records over the last two weeks, the peak of the Omicron wave is not expected to peak until next week.

Even worse, it is believed that around 150,000 cases of the virus have gone unreported, due to the scarcity of PCR tests.

Nevertheless, NPHET is not expected to recommend new restrictions in its letter to the Department of Health this week. Earlier this week, Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed that the requirement for vaccinated people to provide proof of a negative test in order to enter Ireland would be scrapped, as Omicron now makes up at least 96% of all Irish cases.

There are also no changes expected when it comes to advice for close contacts.

As it stands, restrictions introduced last month that require all hospitality to be closed by 8pm and all live events to operate at 50% capacity will elapse on January 30th.