ON SUNDAY, Ireland recorded its lowest daily count of Covid-19 cases in 2021.
Figures released by the Department of Health show that just 269 news cases of the virus were confirmed - the lowest daily case number since December 14, 2020, when 264 new cases were recorded.
There was only one further Covid-19-related death confirmed on Sunday.
The latest figures mean that there have been 243,508 cases of coronavirus in the Republic of Ireland since the outbreak of the pandemic, as well as 4,836 deaths.
Last week, Ireland relaxed a number of lockdown restrictions for the first time in over four months.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly (Photo: Julien Behal / RollingNews.ie)While the travel limit was eased to allow people to go anywhere within their own county - or within 20km of their home - and rules on outdoor activities were relaxed, the skeleton of full lockdown is expected to remain in place until the middle of summer.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin admitted that more restrictions will be eased in the coming weeks, with non-essential retail and personal services such as hairdressers and barbers to reopen from next month.
There're also reports that pubs could be reopened as early as June, although nothing has been confirmed yet.
It's understood however that pub-goers will have to wait until July before indoor pub visits are possible.
