The Taoiseach has confirmed the current Covid 19 restrictions will continue until March 5th

Micheál Martin says it’s being done to reduce the pressure on our hospitals and critical care units

Ministers are also set to sign off on mandatory isolation for people who arrive into Ireland without a negative PCR test and those travelling from South Africa and Brazil.

Speaking on his way into today's Cabinet meeting, the Taoiseach says the restrictions are essential to reduce the covid numbers. 

"So as has been flagged the restrictions will continue to the 5TH of March. Yesterday's presentations would suggest that even if we do that, we will still have a significant number of people in hospital at the end of February. And so therefore, that is the real clear motivating factor now in terms of the measures that we're going to take today"