The coronavirus pandemic could be entering the "end game" in Europe as case numbers continue to stabilise.
This positive update was issued by the WHO's Europe Director Hans Kluge this week who predicted that a future wave of the disease "could no longer require the return to pandemic-era, population-wide lockdowns or similar measures".
His comments were echoed by leading immunologist Prof Luke O'Neill who believes that the disease can cease to be a global health emergency this year.
The Trinity College professor said Covid-19 is "under control" as Ireland also approaches the "end game" with the virus.
Latest figures show that a total of 6,136 deaths related to Covid-19 have been reported in Ireland to date, including 49 deaths newly notified in the past week.
A further 10,414 cases of coronavirus were reported on Wednesday, bringing the 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 of the population to 3,602.
It comes as new data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre shows the counties that recorded the highest incidence rates of the virus per 100,000 of the population in the third week in January.
Westmeath is in the top spot, according to the latest HPSC data for the third week of this month from January 16 to January 22.
The county has an incidence rate of 4529.7 per 100,000 of the population.
Making up the top three Covid hotspots are Clare (2960.9) and Kildare (2904.2).
The rest of the regions in the top ten worst-hit areas are: Roscommon (2886.4), Cavan (2641.3), Donegal (2576.8), Louth (2566.6), Monaghan (2544.6), Wexford (2455.9) and Longford (2434.4).
These are followed by: Sligo (2278.2), Wicklow (2227.8), Leitrim (2187.6), Galway (2186.7), Mayo (2095.7), Meath (2032.4), Carlow (2007.7), Dublin (1926.9), Waterford (1856.7), Tipperary (1822.0) and Offaly (1768.8).
Meanwhile, the five counties faring best with coronavirus are: Kerry (1157.7), Limerick (1493.6), Cork (1572.4) Laois (1695.5) and Kilkenny (1705.1).
