As level five restrictions remain largely in place across Ireland, there are signs of a return to normality in other parts of the world - as Israel prepares to reopen its borders next month.
Irish Immunologist, Luke O’Neill, took to Twitter to post Israel’s ongoing improvement in relation to the pandemic, and to reassure the people of Ireland that "this is coming our way".
Israel's health officials have confirmed that they are now reporting 98% fewer cases. Of those reported, 93% less are becoming critically ill, and further, 87% fewer of those cases are resulting in deaths.
More than half of the country - around 5.3 million people - have already received their two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.
With vaccination numbers sky high, and the number of people recovered from the virus at over 830,000, a leading Israeli doctor believes the country may be close to reaching "herd immunity".
This happens when a certain number of a population is protected against the infection or virus at hand, and so, it stops being able to spread.
Israel will also welcome the return of vaccinated holidaymakers from next month.
It announced a reopening of its borders to groups of foreign tourists who have had both doses of a coronavirus vaccine from May 23.
The government has said inbound travellers will be required to take a PCR test before boarding their flight, and an antibody test upon arrival to prove they have been vaccinated.
A few weeks back, Israel hit headlines as it began its return to normality by reopening its economy, seeing hundreds of people return to restaurants and bars across the country.
Following this move, the Minister of Health Yuli Edelstein said: "After opening the economy, it is time to allow tourism in a careful and calculated manner.
"Reopening tourism is important for one of the fields most hurt during the Covid year."
This latest decision to reopen the border gives Ireland hope that we too can follow suit over the coming months marking a return to business as normal.
