Facemasks could soon be optional in shops, schools and on public transport.
NPHET is to meet tomorrow to review the remaining pandemic restrictions, including rules around mask-wearing.
Senior government figures are said to be expecting a recommendation to ease the emergency measure and replace it with guidance.
But Professor of Health Systems at DCU, Anthony Staines, doesn't think replacing the rules with guidance is a good idea right now;
"Case numbers are still very high and we really need to look for cheap and noninvasive ways of dealing with this problem and masks are cheap, not particularly invasive, mush less disruptive you than you know closing everything or shutting everything down."
Cases
8,815 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed yesterday.
The figure included 4,160 PCR-confirmed cases, while 4,655 people registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal.
635 COVID-19 patients are in hospital, down from 665 on Monday. 63 are in ICU.
