Ireland recorded another 206 new cases of Covid-19 on Friday.
Tragically, seven more people lost their lives after fighting the deadly virus.
The National Public Health Emergency Team released the latest figures in a statement, fresh after giving its recommendation for Christmas to Government.
But Cabinet has remained defiant, and is set to approve the reopening of retail, gyms, cinemas and golf courses from Tuesday.
While wet pubs are set to stay shut, it is expected that restaurants and bars serving food could reopen as early as next Friday.
The Government is currently meeting for crunch talks on what measures will be in place for the festive season.
As many as three households will likely be allowed to mingle over the holidays.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin is expected to make the full announcement in a State of the Nation address, which is scheduled for sometime after 6.30pm this evening.
Speaking on his way into the crunch talks earlier, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said: "I'll tell you what I think we should all be very happy with, the conversation we are having is about how we open Ireland up for December, how we open up Ireland for Christmas.
"There are hard decisions that have to be made, there are no doubts about it, but around Europe, the conversations my counterparts are having are around how they stop an escalation in Covid fatalities."
