The Public Expenditure Minister has indicated Level 5 restrictions will not be lifted at the end of this month.
1,897 patients were in public hospitals last night with the virus, while nationally 209 people were in intensive care.
93 deaths from Covid 19 were recorded yesterday, the highest figure to date.
Michael McGrath says the figures are still to high for the restrictions to ease, but says the plan is for schools to reopen as planned on February 1st.
"I think it's fair to say that no-one expects that there will be a widespread reopening of the economy [on Feb 1st].
"We will try to give people as much notice as we can to plan their lives.
"Obviously at this point despite the huge difficulties this week, planned reopening of special schools and special ed classes, February 1st remains the target date for the reopening of schools generally."
