We expect to know by tomorrow what the next month will look like when it comes to Covid-19 restrictions.
With a Cabinet meeting on the agenda – scheduled to discuss the state of play over Level Five restrictions – we shouldn't be waiting too much longer for more clarity.
The meeting isn't happening before time: there's a huge amount for Government ministers to discuss after a month more dramatic than we've seen throughout the pandemic.
Lobby groups will be watching on anxiously, waiting to hear what the forecast looks like for the pub, restaurant and shopping sectors – to name but three.
Here's what could change from tomorrow – and what's likely to stay the same.
Intercounty travel
Travel between counties is forbidden under Level Five, with a strict 5km quarantine in place.
And it's highly, highly unlikely that anything will change when it comes to people's mobility after tomorrow's meeting, given that we expect the current restrictions to be extended until at least the start of March.
Expect a heavy Garda presence on the roads as authorities continue their quest to stifle intercounty travel.
Shopping
Retail has been one of the sectors hit hardest by the pandemic, with in-person shopping disallowed for much of the last year.
For shops around Ireland, the hope is that they'll be allowed to reopen sometime in the spring – but don't expect any immediate good news to come out of tomorrow's meeting.
Foreign travel
The question of travel – specifically, how strictly Ireland should police those coming into the country – has become an increasingly topical one in recent weeks.
With calls for a zero-Covid strategy growing in volume, the Government will likely face pressure to adopt harsher quarantine measures for people flying into Ireland's airports.
With reported disagreements at senior levels over the feasibility of mandatory quarantine, a decision tomorrow is unlikely – but don't rule it out entirely.
Pubs and restaurants
The only question for pubs and restaurants, by now, is at what stage of the summer they can expect to reopen their doors.
Many in the sector are pinning their hopes on the May Bank Holiday, though some reports have flagged June as a more realistic period.
While there may not be any immediate calls made, long-term clarity is crucial for the the food-and-drink industry – so it'll expect to at least be on the discussion paper.
