The Government's Covid-19 subcommittee will today meet for a major discussion on the situation facing Ireland.
Nearly a month since the imposition of Level Five restrictions, case numbers have fallen significantly – but Dr Tony Holohan yesterday warned that the county is at a "critical" moment in its battle with the virus.
And Ireland's top politicians are understood to be dead set on the idea of a lengthened lockdown.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has already warned that Ireland is likely to face restrictions for up to six months, with the Government unwilling to take another risk by reopening too soon.
The Cabinet subcommittee consists of Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath.
Here's what's likely to be on the agenda today:
Level Five
We know already that Level Five restrictions won't be lifted on January 31, the scheduled end date of the current lockdown.
But what's less clear, yet, is the Government's precise plan for extending the measures currently in place.
It's been reported that we could be in for another six weeks of Level Five – meaning it would be mid-March at the earliest before things start to relax.
As always, for the Government, the conundrum lies in balancing the health risks of reopening with the human and economic costs of more lockdown.
Schools
The journey to reopening Ireland's classrooms has been one of the rockiest faced by the Government in recent times.
It's not long since controversy exploded between the Department of Education and trade unions over the plan to getting schools back up and running.
Today, top officials will be discussing when students can get back to school – including the situation facing special needs schools.
And the Leaving Cert is another head-scratcher for ministers, with far more questions than answers over the fate of Ireland's state exams.
Mandatory quarantine
Pressure is growing on the Government to introduce stricter rules for those coming into the country from overseas.
From public health chiefs to opposition politicians, there's now a growing chorus of voices calling for the adoption of a strategy that would see Ireland take a more careful approach to who it allows in.
The Government appears unwilling, so far, to go the whole hog when it comes to mandatory quarantine.
But a period of enforced isolation could be imposed on people coming in from South Africa and Brazil – two countries with dangerous new strains of the virus.
Public compliance
Gardai have imposed fines on over 1,000 people for coronavirus-related breaches in recent weeks – leading some to fret that public patience with restrictions is fraying.
Even Dr Tony Holohan – often a purveyor of the "tough love" approach to restrictions – agreed last week that fresh messaging is needed to encourage people to follow the rules.
The subcommittee is likely to discuss how best to keep the public on side – particularly when it comes to extending the restrictions for another month at least.
