A further 11,139 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed.
It's the lowest daily number of cases reported in almost three weeks.
6,329 cases were detected by PCR tests, and 4,810 were positive antigen tests registered on the HSE portal.
There are 1,006 Covid patients in hospital, and 97 are in ICU.
As things start to look more and more positive what would be a huge boost to hospitality is if the corporate bookings or get togethers that canceled in December considered re booking even smaller events in February and March. It really would help a lot. #Supportlocal pic.twitter.com/sU421X9TjM
— Noel Anderson (@NoelAnderson_) January 17, 2022
Restrictions
Meanwhile, pressure is growing on the Government to ease Covid restrictions on the hospitality sector.
The Restaurants Association of Ireland is seeking extended opening hours from Thursday while a number of Government backbenchers have backed the move.
NPHET is due to meet on Thursday to consider the situation with Tánaiste Leo Varadkar saying a phased re-opening will likely be planned.
Enda Keogh of Peter's Pub in Dublin believes it's time to end the curfew:
"I'm appalled the way people have been treated and the businesses too."
"I know it's a serious situation."
"But see pubs like ourselves putting respectable people out at eight o'clock at night over Christmas, I cried some nights."
"I'm in business a long time."
"Putting my customers out on the street in eight o'clock at night before Christmas is appalling."
