There have been 5,767 further positive PCR tests of Covid-19 confirmed in Ireland today by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
An additional 5,916 people registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal on Monday.
The Department of Health says there are now 979 people in hospital, of which 93 are in ICU.
It comes as Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said Ireland is in a "good position" despite the "tsunami of cases" brought by Omicron.
He said he hopes to see restrictions lifted as soon as possible as they should be removed "at the earliest possible opportunity" if there is not an “absolutely clear” public health rationale for continued measures.
“We’re in a very good position - cases are falling, hospitalisations are falling, and critical care has remained steady the whole way through," he told Pat Kenny on Newstalk.
"We’re in a very good position to be having this conversation.
“I don’t think it would be fair for me to be giving people hope or false hope that might get dashed at the end of the week.
“I believe we have a duty to relinquish [emergency] powers and to end the difficult restrictions the moment the public health rationale is no longer in support of them.”
He added: “I believe we have a duty to relinquish [emergency] powers and to end the difficult restrictions the moment the public health rationale is no longer in support of them.
“The conversation that I’m having with the department and that I’m having with the public health teams is for measures that we continue with, we need an absolutely clear public health rationale for them. Whenever there isn’t a public health rationale, then they should be dispensed with at the earliest possible opportunity.”
Minister Donnelly did not want to speculate about what recommendations NPHET might make after their crunch meeting on Thursday.
Officials are expected to consider the 8pm closing time for hospitality businesses including pubs and restaurants.
The NPHET advice, if there is any, will be delivered to the Minister for Health on Thursday evening, though Cabinet are set to meet on Wednesday in advance of that.
