Ireland is set to leave the current Level Five lockdown on December 1 - but we don't know yet what will follow.
Some plans and hints are starting to emerge, with the country now on track to enter a modified Level Three on December 1.
It has also emerged that National Public Health Emergency Team will now meet on Wednesday instead of Thursday as originally planned.
It is understood that businesses and hospitality may be reopened in stages before Christmas.
But pubs that don’t serve food are fighting a losing battle and it’s now looking almost impossible that they will get a Christmas opening present from the Government.
Restaurants are extremely hopeful they can reopen from next week, and sources say they have been told by the Department of Business that “this is on.”
Here is all the latest on Ireland's Level Five exit from some of the most powerful people in the country:
Taoiseach Micheal Martin
Micheal Martin has appeared to issue a blow to the number of people allowed for household visits over Christmas.
With the second lockdown set to end on December 1, the Taoiseach said that the Government must "bear in mind" how a ban on visits to homes during Level Three helped to halt the spread of the disease.
Indicating that there may be tough rules to come on how many households should mix over Christmas, he said: “What has emerged is the move on the restriction of households after being introduced during Level Three seems to have had an impact so we have to bear that in mind as we move through December.
“Level Three and the restriction on households that we brought in and then Level Five did work and has worked.
“There has been a narrative around this that I don’t think is helpful or accurate, it has worked, we brought the numbers well down.”
The news comes after the Irish Mirror reported earlier that wet pubs will remain closed for the festive season, while restaurants will be allowed to reopen if daily cases fall below 300.
The hospitality industry has been told that the magic number of Covid cases that will allow a mass reopening of restaurants next week will be “in the 200s.”
Dr Tony Holohan
Dr Tony Holohan has told how Ireland's incidence rate has now dropped to be the second lowest in Europe.
The Chief Medical Officer issued a positive update on our current rate of progress - but refused to preempt what advice NPHET will give to government later this week.
And with just days to go until the second lockdown is set to wrap up, the country recorded just 252 new cases of Covid-19.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday evening, Dr Holohan said Ireland's 14 day incidence rate currently sits at 107 per 100,000, a figure which only trails Finland in the European leaderboard.
He added that the incidence has reduced by 40% in the past 14 days.
Finland's rate is currently just under 70 cases per 100,000 population.
Dr Holohan said: "There are about three countries that are doing a little better than that but if you look at each of them closely you'll see that the 14 day incidence is many times greater than here.
"So ours is both low in absolute terms and reducing significantly."
Dr Holohan added that around two thirds of countries across Europe are experiencing a growth in their two week rate, while Ireland's has dropped.
Stephen Donnelly
The Minister for Health has not publicly announced any Christmas plans, however yesterday the Fianna Fail TD hailed the positive results from the Oxford University Covid-19 vaccine.
While the jab has not yet been approved for use, Donnelly said the results were "promising".
He wrote on Twitter: "A good start to the week to see the Oxford vaccine is proving so effective in trials.
"Further safety checks must still be done, but these are promising results."
