The Chief Medical Officer has urged people not to socialise with people from other households this New Year's Eve.
Dr Tony Holohan says the rate of hospital admissions is "not sustainable" -- with 20,554 new infections announced yesterday.
PCR testing has been suspended for most people with symptoms between the ages of 4 and 39, until after a positive antigen test result.
The Covid-19 isolation period has been cut from ten days to seven for people who've had a booster vaccine or a breakthrough infection after their first two jabs.
Dr Denis McAuley, chair of the Irish Medical Organisation's GP committee says they're thought to be low-risk.