There have been 3,628 further confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.
As of 8.00am today, 420 patients are hospitalised with the virus - of which 105 are in ICU.
It's estimated around 35% of reported cases are now due to the Omicron variant.
The Department of Health says possible Omicron cases can be identified by the number of PCR results with 'S gene target failure.'
It comes as pubs and restaurants will be forced to shut at 5.00pm from next week under the latest advice from NPHET.
The health officials have advised Government to introduce the new closing times in response to the Omicron variant.
They also called for all indoor sporting and cultural events to take place before 5.00pm and be capped at 50% capacity.
While Fine Gael Senator Regina Doherty says that doesn't make sense.
"The real concern I have is the message that this is going to send out to people who are double-vaccinated and boosted - that they can't go and have a pint and a pizza.
"You saw the Taoiseach a couple of weeks ago telling the world that people weren't showing up for their boosters.
"People are now questioning today that if I'm double-vaccinated and boosted and I still can't go for a pizza and a pint, what's the bloody point?".
And she said the Government has 'lost the room' on this.
"I think they're all well aware - but I think we can also see the concern and the tone from the texts and the tweets from some of our political leaders today is that the hangover from the decisions that were made last year are obviously weighing heavy on people's shoulder.
"But if we are to believe that this year is different from last year.... is all of that for nothing?
"I've a real concern about what that will do to the remanding [sic] vaccination process that's obviously going to be ongoing.
"They've lost the room, they've stopped listening - and I think that's really, really scary and dangerous".
