Ireland is still under one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe, with Level Five measures set to remain in place until at least April 5.
The restrictions will be reviewed by Government before that date, but a lot of things indicate that we won't be rid of many rules until at least the summer.
However, as the vaccine rollout continues and cases continue to drop, there are encouraging signs emerging.
Here's what the Government and health experts are saying:
Taoiseach Micheal Martin
Speaking ahead of a Cabinet meeting, Taoiseach Micheal Martin signalled that there could be some changes to the lockdown on April 5.
He has previously signalled that the country will face Level Five restrictions right through April. However he struck a more positive tone that we could see some changes soon.
He said: "The good news its having an impact. And the impact can be seen on reducing numbers [of cases], reducing hospitalisations and reducing the numbers in intensive care.
"As we roll out the vaccine programme the evidence now is that the vaccine is having a good impact in terms of reducing mortality and severe illness."
Mr Martin said that a number of areas are being examined in the coming weeks regarding lifting restrictions, including rules around outdoors sports, but said that the government will be better placed to make a call before the lockdown is due to expire on April 5
He said: "We'll take advice from NPHET at that stage and it will depend on where the numbers are but we are making progress as a country.
"We will be in a better position before the 5th of April to make informed decisions."
Minister Simon Harris
Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris was more cautious in his prediction, saying the Government would be focused on a "slow, steady, cautious" reopening of society.
Mr Harris said it is too early to speculate "beyond where we are now" and Government will review restrictions ahead of 5 April.
He said: "I did think the NPHET briefing last night was very encouraging. Its good to see every metric going in the right direction. Today we have fewer than 400 patients in hospital with Covid-19, the first time we've seen that this year. But its too early to speculate beyond where were are now."
"It is about slow, steady, cautious reopening with two aims. Providing people with as much protection as possible through the vaccine programme, and secondly making sure that as we reopen we never have to go backwards. So slowly reopening so that we can stay open."
Minister Eamon Ryan
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has echoed comments that the government will take a cautious approach to reopening.
But the Transport Minister also said that Ireland will be in a better place on April 5 when restrictions are being reviewed.
He said: "What they're seeing is the case numbers and particularly the acute hospital numbers going down.
"I still think we're in that place that Ronan Glynn spoke about a few weeks that rather than looking back six months or looking forward six months we should focus on the now for the next while.
"If the numbers are going down by 100 cases a week, coming up to the 5th of April we should be in a much better place."
Dr Ronan Glynn
Speaking at a NPHET briefing on Monday, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn signalled that Ireland could be in a much better position in the coming weeks as the vaccine rollout continues.
However, he warned that people still need to 'keep up their guard', saying Ireland is still in a 'precarious' position.
Dr Glynn said: "We need as much improvement as we can through March.
''We are on a good pathway as it stands, but it is a precarious pathway. There are many countries in Europe who have deteriorated in recent weeks.
''The level of the vaccine we have in people - that's not enough to avoid a deterioration or another wave if we drop our guard at this point.
"I would hope we'd be able to give a much better degree of certainty in April or May.
"By the end of May, we should be able to give that clarity.
"I hope everything will be more certain as weeks go by - that the possibility of another wave is decreasing but that is contingent on further improvement on the next couple of weeks.
"There is more mobility, people are returning to workplaces and overall the compliance is excellent. But it is precarious.
"The more improvement we make in the next two to three weeks, the more options we have in April and May."
