The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed that the end of Covid-19 is now in sight.
Yesterday there were just 233 patients with the disease in Irish hospitals.
Eight of them were in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda while a further eight are recovering in Cavan General Hospital.
Monaghan Infectious Disease expert, Dr Sam McConkey says that while the virus hasn't gone away, the strength of the disease has.
He said vaccinations, previous infection and virus limitations had contributed to these latest developments.
Dr McConkey also pointed out that respiratory failure associated with the virus was no longer evident.
"There are groups in Ireland and abroad looking at which new strains are arising," he continued.
"Bit like we heard about Omicron; we heard about Alpha in January 2020; we heard about the Delta virus.
"So there could come another one - and actually after Delta there is Pi.
"Could there be a Pi?
"There probably will but my guess is it will be a milder version that will be more transmissible but less pathogenic."
