''So far my hope is that as of midnight this Sunday those will be relaxed.''
The Health Minister says he's very hopeful the restrictions in the Midlands will be lifted on Sunday.
Which is when the partial lockdown in Kildare, Laois and Offaly is scheduled to end.
The National Public Health Emergency team is meeting today to discuss what advice to give Government following a surge in cases in recent days.
266 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed this weekend alone.
Minister Stephen Donnelly says the easing of restrictions will depend on the public health advice.
''NPHET is meeting today, they will meet later on this week and they will make a recommendation'', he said.
''But so far my hope is that as of midnight this Sunday those will be relaxed, but we'll listen very carefully to public health doctors''.
Meanwhile, Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ronan Glynn says that some people are socialising 'recklessly' and that 'cannot continue'.
It comes after a viral video at a bar in Dublin city centre appeared to show people ignoring public health advice.