The Chief Medical Officer is to consider reducing the isolation period for people who test positive for Covid-19.
The decision was made by the cabinet health committee last night after ministers were briefed by Dr Tony Holohan.
He will now review the seven-day period and make a recommendation to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly.
Executive editor of the Irish Daily Mail, John Lee, says a return of mandatory mask-wearing was also ruled out last night;
"Well despite pressure from all sides to bring back moderate restrictions, particularly from the health sector, that was not bowed to, in fact, they appeared to go the other way discussing loosening some of the remaining restrictions."
It comes despite a worsening situation in the country's hospitals.
There were 1,535 Covid patients in hospital yesterday, over 900 more than at the start of the month.
While last month was the worst March for overcrowding since records began, with over 11,000 without a bed.
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