Latest figures show that the number of people in hospital intensive care units across the country with Covid-19 has reduced to 51 patients.
There are currently 208 patients in hospital with confirmed cases of Covid-19.
HSE CEO Paul Reid described this as “a good trend with the early benefits of the vaccines reducing the sickness levels for the most vulnerable.”
“The light is shining a little brighter for now,” he tweeted this morning.
This comes as Mr Reid confirmed on Thursday April 8, that Ireland had administered its one millionth vaccine.
Mr Reid added: “We expect almost 19% of the eligible population to have received their dose 1 and almost 8% dose 2. This week we administered 98% of vaccines received within the same week."
With 17 additional hospitalisations confirmed yesterday due to the virus, Ireland is set to lift the 5km travel limit from homes this coming week.
From Monday April 12, outdoor construction will also resume, meaning all residential construction and early-learning and childcare projects will restart.
Two fully vaccinated people will be permitted to meet indoors without masks or social distancing, provided it is just the two of them.
In-school teaching will return for all years in both primary and secondary schools.
However, international travel into Ireland is still being dissuaded by the government as an additional 16 States have been added to the mandatory hotel quarantine list, including France, the US and Canada.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly explained this decision as: “Protecting public health as a matter of urgency has been to the fore of these decisions around mandatory quarantine.
“This is another strong move following public health advice relating to Variants of Concern with Covid-19.
“These variants pose a significant risk to our fight against this disease and our vaccination programme.
“This decision also reinforces Ireland’s biosecurity, ensuring we have the strongest measures in place in Europe.”
