The National Public Health Emergency Team is meeting this morning to finalise a 'roadmap' for Ireland's coronavirus exit plan.
Made up of experts from the medical field in Ireland, the NPHET meets every Tuesday and Friday and make recommendations which the Government then announce to the public.
Today the team will give Simon Harris and Leo Varadkar their opinion on when restrictions should start to be lifted.
Here's all you need to know about the team that make the recommendations to the Government and who is on it.
How many people are on NPHET?
The National Public Health Emergency Team is made up of about 40 experts who all meet on Tuesdays and Fridays to discuss the latest Covid-19 developments.
Specialists from the Department of Health, HSE, HIQA and Professors from a number of universities all sit at these meetings.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan chairs the meetings with other public speakers such as Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer at the HSE, and Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer.
Prof Philip Nolan, President, National University of Ireland, Maynooth and Chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, who presents the curves at the daily briefings, is another in the meeting.
No Government Ministers or even the Taoiseach himself are involved.
How do the meetings work?
The majority of people attend via video call due to the very social distancing measures that they themselves devised.
Minutes from the previous day are then read out before Dr Tony Holohan guides the group through a number of set-out areas to discuss, including a review of current restrictions, latest modelling and an update on national data.
What happens after?
Once the meeting ends a letter is sent to Minster Simon Harris, signed off by Dr Tony Holohan, which outlines the latest findings and recommendations of the NPHET.
As with today's lockdown decision, this will then be given to appropriate people like the Taoiseach who will speak to the entire nation on what happens next.
Meeting minutes
Anyone can see what was discussed at each meeting via the minutes which are available on the Government's website here.
If you wish to nominate someone for our Covid-19 heroes campaign, all you have to do is email their name and a few details to heroes@irishmirror.ie.
