Ireland is "tantalisingly close" to eliminating the coronavirus in the community, according to a leading expert.
It comes ahead of key decisions in the reopening of the Irish economy. The country is just weeks away from re-opening schools and pubs are due to open their doors on August 10th.
Immunologist, Professor Luke O'Neill, from Trinity College said we're on the road to recovery:
"We're almost there ... tantalising close in that we're gonna nearly get elimination in Ireland".
"We're very close to being in a much better place than we've been so, in other words, we can be somewhat optimistic"
However, he added that people still need to be vigilant"
"But again it's vigilance and everybody has to keep doing the same thing ... it's a mantra at this stage"
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation says that the Covid-19 pandemic is easily the worst global health emergency the organisation has faced according to its Director-General. More than 16 million people around the world have been infected with over 4 million alone in the US and 2 million in Brazil
It comes after Spain was added to the UK's quarantine list over the weekend. Those coming back to the UK and Northern Ireland from there must now self-isolate - after it was taken off the list of restriction-free nations due to a rise in cases.
The Spanish government is now calling for travellers from the Balearic and Canary Islands to be excluded from quarantine rules.
