Government ministers are expecting an update from Dr Tony Holohan on the Delta variant after an increase in hospitalisations.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Ministers will meet virtually on Friday for a Cabinet sub-committee on Covid-19.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is also expected to give an update on the vaccination programme.
It comes after the Taoiseach announced the Government has secured an extra 700,000 Covid-19 vaccines from Romania which will be delivered throughout August.
It’s understood the online portal for 12 to 15-year-olds to register for a Covid-19 vaccine appointment is being finalised and an announcement is expected this week on when it will go live.
Despite the optimistic message from Dr Holohan and HSE boss Paul Reid recently, there are concerns about a “trickle upwards” in the number of people being admitted to hospital.
The Chief Medical Officer and NPHET members have also been working on vaccination targets for the Government to reach before advising to relax any further restrictions.
Dr Holohan is expected to advise the Government on achievable vaccination targets and what criteria “might enable us to say, look, we’ve reached the point now that we’re ready to move on.”
Dr Holohan and NPHET are expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss the current trajectory of the virus before Dr Holohan briefs Ministers on Friday.
They will give an update on the prevalence of the disease and the HSE boss will update Cabinet ministers on the impact the disease is having on the country’s hospitals.
Meanwhile, pub and restaurant chiefs will call on Government officials for a plan to reopen nightclubs and scrap the 11.30pm curfew when they meet on today tomorrow.
Representatives of the hospitality industry are demanding a return to normal trading hours, a plan to reopen nightclubs and want a roadmap outlined to them which will detail the phased wind down of restrictions.
Hospitality bodies want to see the roll-out of PCR testing and antigen testing this month.
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