Ireland is still in grips of the coronavirus pandemic as we enter another week under Level Five restrictions.
The number of cases confirmed each day continues to stay high, and hospital admissions continue to rise.
However, it's important to remember that it isn't all bad news, and there are some reasons to be optimistic as we head into a difficult winter.
Here are some more optimistic stories to emerge in recent days:
The positive trend in cases
In the last week, there has been a noticeable drop in the number of coronavirus cases in Ireland following a previous continued surge.
This represents the first reduction in the positivity rate for cases since August and was now at 5.9%.
On six of the last seven days, less than 1,000 cases were reported each day.
Meanwhile, Ireland's 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 of the population has reduced again after falling for a third day in a row to 292.1.
Despite this positive trend, HSE chief Paul Reid is still expressing caution and concerns about the hospital situation in Ireland.
"We have seen a steady increase in both hospitalisations and ICU (admissions) over the last couple of week.
He added that the health service was "managing" but that the HSE was still "apprehensive about the coming weeks."
Trial results expected soon
Over the next few weeks, the first results to show whether one of the vaccines actually works will be published.
At present, there are three groups working on a vaccine - Oxford University in partnership with drug company AstraZeneca, Moderna in the US, and Pfizer in collaboration with the German company BioNTech.
To be approved, a vaccine needs to be at least 50% effective and it must be safe.
Earlier this week, there was other positive news when US biopharmaceutical company Regeneron reported its monoclonal antibody cocktail treatment helped people with mild and moderate Covid-19.
Elsewhere, results from American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company were published on Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. The company's interim analysis showed its monoclonal antibody treatment seemed to lower the risk of hospitalisation and ease some symptoms in a small number of patients with a mild to moderate case of COVID-19.
Free and subsidised higher education places
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has announced over €30 million in free and subsidised higher education places under the Jobs Stimulus package to help get people back to work, upskill workers and build economic confidence while continuing to manage the impact of COVID-19.
The funding has been approved to support the provision of 11,597 places on short, modular courses together with an additional 2,555 postgraduate places.
Minsiter Harris said: "The courses we are launching today will form a further response to the impacts of the global pandemic, providing upskilling and reskilling places for those who have been most affected and ensuring that they have the skills most needed by employers today. Many courses focus on future-proofing the skills of those in employment, particularly in roles that may be impacted by digitalisation.
"These courses will enable people across the country to embark on new pathways or refresh or reskill in their employment.
