Coronavirus restrictions may not be lifted at all - or only eased slightly - from next week due to serious concerns at the high number of new cases being recorded.
According to the Irish Independent, hopes that the May 5th end date for the current restrictions will see an easing may be curtailed - due to concern over the number of people still catching the virus.
701 new cases of Covid-19 were announced here last night, along with an additional 26 deaths.
The Health Minister says the strategy for easing the restrictions will be decided this week - but Health Minister Simon Harris says he doesn't expect a "big bang" moment on May 5th:.
"There are people asking me if this that or the other will be open when restrictions are changed - I'm not going to speculate.
"We're going to be led by public health advice in relation to what the appropriate thing to do is, and that will be decided this week."
