Early bar and restaurant closures considered as part of new restrictions

The government is set to consider enforcing a suite of new Covid-19 restrictions in a bid to slow the spread of the Omicron variant.

It is understood that National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) is recommending that all pubs and restaurants close at 5pm from Monday, Decemeber 20.

Concerned about the threat posed by all large gatherings they are also advocating the earlier end time for all sporting, theatre and cultural gatherings, and with reduced capacities.

A decision on which recommendations will be accepted will be made at a Cabinet meeting this afternoon.

Yesterday's figures compiled by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre showed 4,141 confirmed cases of COVID-19. As of 8am on Thursday, 443 COVID-19 patients were hospitalised, of which 108 were in ICU.

The total number of Omicron cases confirmed through whole genome sequencing in the Republic of Ireland to date has been revised down to 39 confirmed cases.