Further restrictions not ruled out
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said further Covid restrictions cannot be ruled out after he announced a number of new measures to curb the spread of the virus.
Mr Martin said: "It remains to be seen as to whether these measures will be sufficient to hold back the tide of the infection on hospitalisation.
"We could reduce socialisation by closing a lot more. But we don't want to close a lot more yet."
Senior Government figures told The Irish Times that they fear further restrictions will be necessary in the next few weeks as cases in hospitals continue to rise.
Pressure on health system
Pressure is mounting on the health system amid the continuous rise in Covid-19 cases.
On Tuesday a further 4,407 new cases were recorded.
As of Wednesday morning, there were 634 patients with Covid-19 being treated in hospital, of which 114 were in ICU.
Dr Tony Holohan has said the current rate of the virus is unsustainable.
Inquest begins into suspected murder-suicide
An inquest is to begin on Monday into the suspected murder-suicide of three brothers in Co Cork.
The bodies of Willie and Paddy Hennessy, both aged in their 60s, were found on February 25th 2021.
They were killed by their younger brother, 59-year-old Johnny Hennessy, who then took his own life.