Just announced:
Covid-19 restrictions in Laois and Offaly have been lifted immediately, it's been announced.
The decision was announced at a government briefing this evening, after cabinet signed off on recommendations from NPHET.
The government says schools in Kildare will reopen as planned.
Acting chief medical officer Ronan Glynn says the reason behind the decision is that the pandemic has improved in Laois and Offaly - but not in Kildare.
''NPHET determined the epidemiological situation in Kildare difers considerably from that in Laois in Offaly'', he said.
''While there does appear to be a certain level of stabilisation, a high number of cases continue to be reported on a daily basis''.
He added that cases are widely distributed across the county, while the 7 and 14 day incidence rates are several times higher than the national average.
