A further 10,753 PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed, with 4,208 positive antigen tests reported in the State.

The number of people with Covid-19 in hospital has risen slightly to 965, an increase of 25, according to the latest figures.

There are 88 patients with the virus in ICU.

Hospital Report

On Saturday, the Department of Health was notified of 14,555 new PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19, as well as 5,406 positive antigen tests logged through the HSE portal.

For the first time in many months, all the main pandemic indicators are stable or improving

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It comes as WHO special envoy David Nabarro has said the spread of Omicron variant could signal the first phase of Covid-19 becoming like a common cold, and that a more lethal strain is unlikely to be dominant in the future.

Mr Nabarro told the Business Post that was he was far more positive about the future course of the pandemic than he had been when the Omicron variant first arrived.

He said, however, that the process between a “nasty pandemic” and a much milder “endemic” would not be smooth, and that it would lead to a “bumpy next few months”.

In a post on Twitter, HSE chief executive Paul Reid said on Saturday "a consistent set of Covid-19 trends give great hope."

He said hospital cases were down, and fewer patients were on oxygen support. GP referrals and overall cases were also down.

“Booster vaccines and the public’s response have so far eased the worst impacts. Please get your booster asap,” Mr Reid wrote.

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has hailed the "exceptional" level of take-up of booster Covid-19 vaccines in the State.

The State’s public health team Nphet will meet next week as the Taoiseach says he is “hopeful” that progress can be made on easing restrictions after that.