Taoiseach Micheál Martin is on his way back from a European Union summit in Brussels to attend to the worsening Covid-19 situation in Ireland.

He is expected to address the nation this evening on additional restrictions that are expected to be introduced following a Cabinet meeting.

The Cabinet sub committee on Covid-19 is due to meet between 12 and 1pm and a full Cabinet meeting will be convened afterwards, around 3pm.

Hospital Report

A live address to nation by Mr Martin is planned for 6pm, but sources said that this depends on how long the Cabinet meeting goes on for. A press conference is also expected this evening.

‘I’ve cancelled my Stephen’s Day flights home.’ How Omicron is changing Christmas

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Proposed 5pm curfew would be ‘devastating’ for hospitality sector

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North Waterford district records highest rate of Covid-19 again

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Omicron threat: A little respect for the travel industry will go a long way

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Earlier, HSE director general Paul Reid said that, even under optimistic modelling, the Omicron coronavirus variant will put hospitals under pressure.

Although a lot about the Omicron variant remains unknown, Mr Reid said it appeared highly transmissible and the expected amount of cases would have an impact on hospitals.

Speaking on both Newstalk Breakfast and RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland, Mr Reid said that the booster campaign was a pre-emptive attack. “That’s our first line” (of defence).

Health service staff had experienced “a horrendous year”, they had worked through four waves of the virus and a cyber attack. “Just as we were beginning to see progress, we are now facing Omicron.”

Mr Reid said the HSE had been in a very strong position recently with a 22 per cent reduction in hospitalisations, but the figures were still at “too high a base” to face Omicron, he cautioned.

It was disheartening, “just when you feel we’re making progress, it hits you again,” he added.

Real evidence was still emerging which made modelling difficult, but even the most “optimistic” outcome would put hospitals under pressure, which made the pre-emptive attack of the booster campaign so important.

Ministers will meet on Friday to consider an earlier closing time of 5pm for pubs, restaurants and other hospitality businesses. Smaller crowds at sports events will also be considered as part of measures to curb the spread of Covid.

The HSE is looking at measures to scale up ICU capacity in the event of a surge, along with care in the community and utilising private hospitals. Mr Reid admitted that non-Covid care would be modified on a hospital by hospital basis.

“We will keep going that way as long as we can,” he said, adding that the aim is to sustain urgent care.

The most recent number for Covid-related staff absences was 5,800, but that had been reduced to just over 5,000 which highlighted the importance of the booster campaign.

Protocols about derogations for close contacts would be made at local level, but if staff who were close contacts were not symptomatic, had not tested positive and were fully vaccinated the policy was that they could work, he said.

Meanwhile, the owner of a Dublin restaurant has described the 5pm curfew for the hospitality sector proposed by Nphet as like “death by a thousand cuts.”

Gina Murphy told RTÉ Radio One’s Today with Claire Byrne show that the 5pm closing time was not viable and that it would be better if the sector was completely shut down and supports put in place.

“It’s just not viable, what are we supposed to do?

“Does anybody understand our business?”

Ms Murphy said that the people “making these decisions” did not understand the sector and what they were suggesting was just not practical. “They can’t keep doing this to people.”

“My biggest fear is for my staff,” she added. “Their average age is 44. They are not disposable people. It is outrageous that they are being treated like this.”