Ireland lockdown key dates: School opening, first review, scheduled end and dark worst-case scenario

Covid-wise, it's probably fair to say Ireland has had a pretty bad week.

Politicians and public health officials are sounding urgent alarm bells as case numbers soar to heights not seen even at the height of the first wave in the spring.

Yesterday, nearly 5,000 cases were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), bringing the total number of diagnosed infections over the 100,000 mark.

And there are very real concerns that the country's health systems could be overrun by a rampant virus that has spread like wildfire over the festive period.

In response, the Government has plunged the country into a third national lockdown, which it says is necessary to wrestle the pandemic back under our control.

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer. (Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)

There's been a fair amount of humming and hawing over the exact nature of the restrictions, amid a situation that was complicated by the small matter of Christmas.

Now, though, we have a pretty clear idea of the dates we need to be watching out for as businesses and households retreat behind closed doors.

Here are all the big dates you need to know about over the coming months – with the caveat, as always, that the calendar could yet be reshuffled once again if things change:

January 6 – Ban on UK travel set to lift. The clampdown was put in place in response to a new, more infectious strain of the virus discovered across the water

January 11 – Schools' scheduled reopening date. The Government is still insisting kids will be back on this date, but teachers' unions are worried about the risks

Taoiseach Micheal Martin delivering an address to the nation on the latest update to lockdown restrictions at the Government Buildings, Dublin. (Tom Honan/PA Wire)

January 12 – Government to review current restrictions and Covid-19 situation. At this stage, it looks unlikely that we'll be anywhere close to an easing of restrictions on this date, but you'd never know

January 31 – Level 5 restrictions scheduled to lift. It's important to note that this is subject to ongoing review, so unless things change dramatically for the better it's hard to see any reprieve this early

March – Worst-case scenario for restrictions. Both Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan have warned that it might be necessary to keep the country under lock and key until spring