Some promising lockdown news has emerged as the COVID-19 reproduction number has fallen below 1 in Ireland.
The R number now sits between 0.7 and 0.9, according to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly this morning.
The R number is a vital metric used to measure the spread of the coronavirus - and falling below one is an important sign that transmission of the virus is slowing.
Other significant metrics are also slowing up, Minister Donnelly told the Oireachtas Health Committee this morning.
Ireland's 14-day incidence rate has fallen to 228 cases per 100,000, compared to 278 two weeks ago.
The average number of close contacts is down to 3, and the overall positivity rate is down under 5%.
And Wicklow TD Donnelly also said testing capacity is up to 140,000 per week.
Promisingly, he also claimed demand for testing has dropped by 40% in the past week.
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