The Deputy Chief Medical Officer has promised that "better days are insight" amid Ireland's toughest-ever lockdown.
Dr Ronan Glynn tonight offered three reasons to be optimistic after public health bosses confirmed another 763 cases of Covid-19, as well as 28 more deaths.
Announcing the figures – which bring to 213,400 the total number of cases since the pandemic's outset – Dr Glynn admitted that this lockdown has been "very difficult for people".
He added: "We still have a way to go."
But Dr Glynn vowed that "better days are in sight", pointing to the public's response, the dedication of Ireland's healthcare staff and the rollout of the vaccine as hopeful signs amid the gloom.
"People continue to respond to public health advice and act in solidarity with one another," he said.
"We have a dedicated and committed health workforce and we are learning more about this disease all the time.
"We now have three very safe and effective vaccines being rolled out and supply should increase very substantially over the coming weeks.
"Please continue in your efforts as we seek to ensure that as many people as possible can benefit from vaccination."
Of tonight's cases, 251 are in Dublin, 84 are in Galway, 57 are in Kildare, 47 are in Limerick, 42 are in Waterford and the remaining 282 are spread across Ireland's other 21 counties.
Fallout continued today after the Irish Mirror last night reported that Ireland is set for another nine weeks of lockdown.
Mary Lou McDonald called on the Taoiseach to make a national address after he told this newspaper that "severe" restrictions are likely to remain in place until the end of April.
The Sinn Fein leader said Micheál Martin’s comments about extending severe restrictions until May had caused “great distress” to the ordinary member of the public.
And she wants an emergency Cabinet meeting to be called this weekend, after which the Government should tell the people what is happening.
Ms McDonald was asked by the Mirror if a national address was needed to clear the air after some politicians tried to backtrack on the Taoiseach's comments.
