The Chief Medical Officer has given his strongest indication yet that COVID-19 restrictions won't be lifted next Tuesday.

The National Public Health Emergency Team is due to issue its advice on easing restrictions to Government tomorrow.

Last night, Dr Tony Holohan again warned that as things stand, he wouldn't be advising anything be lifted next week.

Officials believe there are still too many patients in intensive care to ease restrictions – as the health system could come under intense pressure if the numbers rose quickly.

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A new survey has fund that 85% of businesses have closed to some degree as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions.

The Chambers Ireland survey found that most of the hardest-hit businesses expect their earnings for the year to be less than half what they were expecting at the start of the year.

Most of the 1,300 businesses in the survey said they will need at least two weeks’ notice to reopen – with a quarter requiring at least a month.

Many also warned of the high costs of implementing social distancing measures and re-stocking when health officials do give the green light.

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A rural TD is calling for COVID-19 restrictions to be relaxed in counties with lower numbers of cases

Denis Naughten has said there are many areas with low rates of infection where people could safely return to work and socially distance.

As of midnight on Monday, there were over 9,500 cases in Dublin - while Leitrim had only reported 67.

Meanwhile, Carlow, Leitrim, Longford, Roscommon, Sligo, Waterford and Wexford all account for less than 1% of the country’s cases.

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The government is likely to face calls to ease social distancing measures when the Dáil meets this afternoon.

Yesterday Leo Varadkar held his now weekly meeting with leaders of the opposition where calls were made for some of the Coronavirus restrictions to be lifted.

The Taoiseach has said at the moment the medical advice is that the lockdown cannot be lifted, but the government is considering easing measures in some areas.

The Dáil meets this afternoon when those calls are likely to be given more voice.

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Over 600 people have died from Covid-19 in long-term residential care facilities since the beginning of the year.

The total includes those who were tested for the disease, and people who were listed as probable deaths related to coronavirus.

There have now been over 20,000 confirmed cases of the virus in the Republic after 376 ore were announced last night.

The total number of deaths now stands at 1,190.