Ireland's R number has dropped below 1 for the first time since the lockdown began, the Health Minister has confirmed.
Stephen Donnelly revealed that the reproductive number now stands at between 0.7 and 0.9.
The key metric shows roughly how many other people get infected by an average Covid-19 case.
Donnelly told the Health committee that the decision to move to Level Five lockdown last month was made due to a rapid increase in new cases.
The Fianna Fail TD also added that there had been some positive signs that the new measures could be working.
The 14-day incidence rate of confirmed cases per 100,000 population now stands at 278 nationally, compared to 278 in the previous two-week period.
And Mr Donnelly added that the incidence rate is currently falling in 23 of the 26 counties.
Last night just 322 more cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Ireland, with five further deaths.
The latest update from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) was given on Tuesday evening.
As of 2pm on Tuesday 296 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 42 are in ICU.
There had also been 14 additional hospitalisations in the previous 24 hours.
