Ireland will from Thursday require bars and nightclubs to close early while ramping up the use of booster vaccines in a bid to combat a resurgence in Covid-19 cases in its largely vaccinated population, the governing party has said, according to Reuters.

Three months ago, it had announced plans to drop almost all restrictions within weeks, but infection numbers have since increased again to levels close to last January's all-time peak, even though more than 90 per cent of adults are now vaccinated.

From Thursday, nightclubs, bars as well as restaurants must close by midnight and workers will be advised to work from home where possible, Prime Minister Micheal Martin's Fianna Fail party said in a Twitter post.