ACTING Chief Medical Officer Ronan Glynn has warned the country against complacency, calling it the biggest challenge Ireland faces in the battle against coronavirus.
Though death rates have slowed and case numbers are still - by and large - dropping, Dr Glynn urged the public to remain "vigilant" and stressed that we could lose our foothold in the fight against the virus if we start to relax.
"As the pandemic accelerates around the world, we must remain vigilant here in Ireland," he said.
"Every day in our individual actions, we have the power to limit the spread of the virus.
"Our priority going forward has to be the reopening of schools and resumption of non Covid-19 healthcare services."
On Sunday, 10 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed, and while there were no new recorded deaths, two people died on Saturday as a result of the disease.
Last week, it was announced that Ireland would be postponing the move into Phase Four of the reopening plan.
The country was due to start Phase Four today, but the move has been pushed back to August 10 at the very earliest.
Face masks are now mandatory on public transport and in shops and other indoor spaces in Ireland while restrictions on public gatherings have been extended.
DCU Prof Anthony Staines says every compromise we make adds to the risk. "I wouldn't go to a nightclub now and I don't see that many people will want to. I wouldn't go to a crowded pub or a crowded restaurant.
"The main fact is that one metre is better than no metres, two metres is a lot better than one metre.
"So if we go to one metre in terms of social distancing we will pay a price for that in terms of the control of the illness."
