The government will hold a press briefing this evening to issue an update on coronavirus restrictions in the midlands.
Cabinet has been meeting today to consider recommendations on lockdown measures that have been in place in Kildare, Offaly and Laois for the last two weeks.
The National Public Health Emergency Team met this week to issue recommendations to the government on whether to extend or lift restrictions.
The restrictions were due to end at midnight this Sunday.
Here's everything you need to know about tonight's briefing:
What time is it starting?
Tonight's government briefing will take place at 4.45pm at Government buildings.
Who will be there?
Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD and the Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ronan Glynn will attend tonight's briefing.
We'll have all the updates from tonight's briefing on our dedicated LIVE BLOG.
What is expected from the briefing?
It’s understood that NPHET recommended to Cabinet that restrictions in Kildare remain in place for a period due to the higher number of cases of Covid-19 in the county.
Lockdown in Laois and Offaly however is expected to be lifted.
Residents in the midlands counties had been instructed not to leave their counties following an alarming spike in coronavirus cases in the regions.
Under the restrictions people were asked to only undertake essential travel for two weeks, such as to attend medical appointments, for vital family reasons, for farming purposes or to travel to and from work that cannot be done from home.
Yesterday Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said he would not comment on the recommendations until government had considered them however he did note that over the last 14 days 455 cases had been reported in Kildare, 81 in Offaly and 41 in Laois.
