Nightclubs could open this weekend.
Cabinet ministers will meet this afternoon to sign off on the widespread easing of Covid restrictions - after NPHET gave the green light yesterday.
Health officials last night recommended the ending of most Covid-19 restrictions in the coming days.
The optimistic advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) will put the end in sight after almost two years of restrictions.
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan advised government that there is no longer a public health rationale for the majority of Covid-19 measures.
Cabinet is to meet this afternoon to sign off on the revised plans, with an announcement expected from the Taoiseach this evening, though the time frame for unwinding all restrictions is not yet clear.
It will include the reopening of nightclubs, and the end of a curfew for the hospitality sector.
Covid passes will no longer be needed, except for international travel, and live events and matches can have full attendances.
The timelines will be decided by the government today - but the reopening is likely to begin this weekend.
Political Reporter with the Irish Times, Jack Horgan-Jones, says the Taoiseach will be making a memorable address to the nation this evening:
Nightclubs could open as early as this weekend - but Neill Kelly, who runs the Factory Nightclub in Waterford City, says that would be too soon for him.
However, a public health expert says we must encourage the vaccination of children as a priority.
Trinity College Dublin Associate Professor Tomás Ryan says this is because Omicron will still be spreading through our schools.
10,571 new cases of Covid-19 have been recorded, including 5,523 PCR tests and 5,048 positive antigen results.
Professor Sam McConkey, Head of Department of International Health and Tropical Medicine at the RSCI spoke with Clem Ryan on Friday morning's Kildare Today:
Professor of Immunovirology, UCC, Liam Fanning also spoke with Clem on Kildare Today:
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