Public health chiefs have confirmed 901 more cases of Covid-19 in Ireland, as well as 47 more deaths.
The latest figures from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) mean some 212,647 people have now caught Covid since the pandemic arrived in Ireland.
And a total of 4,082 people have now died as a result of the deadly virus, NPHET confirmed this evening.
Tonight's figures come after big updates for the hospitality and tourist sectors.
Earlier, the Taoiseach offered a grain of hope to a fretful public after hinting that pubs and restaurants could be open by June.
Micheal Martin said the country would be "in a different place by June", acknowledging that the Government "has to give people hope".
In an interview with Limerick's Live 95FM, Mr Martin said: "I’m loath to predict beyond the end of April, and indeed my conversation with Dr Ronan Glynn (Deputy Chief Medical Officer) on Tuesday was very much to that effect.
“He wants to take it on a phased basis, to continue to monitor this because we’re dealing with a much more transmissible form of the virus.
"But let’s be clear, too – we have to give people hope and I think with the vaccination, hope does come.
"I think we will be in a different space in June and in July, certainly."
And in other optimistic updates, the Tanaiste announced this afternoon that vaccine passports with QR codes have been prepared by the Government.
Leo Varadkar revealed in the Dáil details of the new travel documents that will help open up the skies again for Irish travellers.
The move will also be a massive boost for the tourism sector here, as it will pave the way for mutual arrangements with other countries to allow travel between green zones.
The Minister for Enterprise was talking about the viability of vaccine passports to get travel back up and running.
