PCR tests won't now be ordered for people over three or under forty until an antigen test kit turns positive for Covid-19.
The major change to testing arrangements follows a new all-time daily record infection rate of 20,554 was confirmed last night.
Healthcare workers and the medically vulnerable will still be sent for PCR testing.
The self-isolation period has also been cut from ten days to seven for those with a booster vaccine or a recent breakthrough infection.
Dr Denis McCauley, chair of the Irish Medical Organisations GP committee, says it will allow faster diagnosis for those at the most risk:
"I would imagine that a decision has been made because of the huge incidence of the Omicron variant. In order to make the PCR testing service relevant, so that there won't be any great delay in the testing, that they've made a decision that will hopefully the decrease the amount of PCR tests being done, to very relevant tests and therefore, and the results of these relevant tests can be obtained quickly. And I think that's a good idea."
