Another 6,843 PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been reported in the State, while 5,295 more people have registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal.
The figures were among the latest Covid-19 data reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet), released on Wednesday evening. Nphet also said that another 52 deaths from Covid-19 had been notified in the past week, bringing the State’s total official Covid death toll to 6,087.
As of 8am on Wednesday, there were 910 Covid-19 patients in the State’s hospitals, of whom 90 were in ICU.
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has said he thinks it will be towards the end of next week when Covid-19 restrictions begin to ease, as Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said it is too early to say if an annual vaccine would be required.
Mr Ryan cautioned that the severity of the Omicron variant should not be downplayed as there were 910 Covid patients in hospital on Wednesday, with 90 of those in ICU.
Mr Ryan said Ministers were likely to meet this Friday to consider anticipated updated advice from Nphet, but said this Cabinet meeting may be scheduled for next Tuesday.
This would give the public a few days’ advance notice in relation to the changes, he said on Wednesday. “Towards the end of next week I expect that we will start to see the restrictions start to be lifted,” said Mr Ryan.
Mr Ryan, who is Minister for Transport as well as Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, said he was keen to see a return to social life.
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