A top Irish immunologist has said that Ireland is in the coronavirus battle for the "long haul" but there is an "end game".
Pessimism has swept the country since cases began to rise again midweek and after the decision was taken to push phase four further down the road.
However, top Irish expert Professor Luke O'Neill has given some hope that all these measures will some day end - although it's quite some time away.
Speaking to Brendan O'Connor on RTE Radio One, Prof. O'Neill said: "The end game is science of course, there will be a vaccine but it will take time.
"Good news on the vaccine this week they are making progress, there is a risk there won't be one but still that's one end game.
"The FDA have said what the end game looks like, it's 70% of people would have to take the vaccine in a given country.
"So we now know what these companies are shooting for and they now have a target if you like.
"The second part of this end game is new therapies to stop people dying hospitals.
"We're seeing progress but we don't know when the end game is going to end but we're on that track relentlessly."
The world-renowned expert did add however that with more and more people indoors, the winter poses a serious risk.
He added: "Winter is coming and the winter is high risk.
"We've got a long haul ahead of us, if we can do it all together and remember we will get through it, you've got to keep reminding people this is not hopeless."
