A further 5,767 confirmed COVID cases have been announced this evening.
Some 5,916 people also uploaded positive antigen tests through the HSE portal yesterday.
This morning, there were 979 patients with COVID in Irish hospitals – down seven on yesterday and 83 on this day last week.
There were 93 in intensive care, which is down four on yesterday.
It comes amid increasing calls for COVID restrictions to be lifted as soon as possible.
Pubs, restaurants and cinemas are calling for the 8pm curfew to be lifted immediately, while backbench Government TDs have also backed a quicker reopening.
NEW: Leo Varadkar has told his TDs he wants to set March 31st as a deadline to end "almost all" Covid restrictions. But he noted some measures like mask wearing, Covid passes for travel and staying home when symptomatic will likely be kept longer
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) January 18, 2022
This evening, the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar told his Parliamentary Party that he wants to set March 31st as a deadline to end "almost all" restrictions.
He said some measures like mask-wearing, COVID passes for international travel and staying home when symptomatic will likely be kept on for longer.
