However, families may be able to reunite in small numbers at Christmas if efforts to suppress the virus continue.
The National Public Health Emergency Team has described people returning home from abroad for Christmas as "non-essential travel".
However, they added that families may be able to reunite in small numbers at Christmas if efforts to suppress the virus continue.
Recently, the Chief Medical Officer and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar discouraged people from returning to Ireland for Christmas.
The Level 5 restrictions nationwide are working. The R number has fallen to 0.6, and the national 14 day incidence rate is 135 per 100,000 - half what it was a week ago.
However, some areas of the country are still struggling. Buncrana in Donegal has a 14 day incidence rate of 536 per 100,000, while in Listowel in Kerry its 404.
NPHET has warned large family gatherings and office parties are out of the question.
However Dr Colm Henry, a member of NPHET, says families may be able to meet in small groups on Christmas Day:
"There's so much uncertainty at the moment and so much volatility that it's hard to give people a very hard, direct message to say, 'It's ok. Things will be fine by the Christmas. It will be safe to come home'".
NPHET will formally consider recommendations around international travel at christmas at meeting scheduled for two weeks time.
