A member of the National Public Health Emergency Team says people's behaviour is changing in relation to COVID-19.
It comes as those testing positive for the virus has declined in the last seven days from 8.9 to 5.8%.
New figures from the CSO show the average number of contacts per positive case was four in the week ending October 9th, and that is down from six contacts per case four weeks ago.
Dr Mary Favier, COVID advisor to the Irish College of General Practitioners and member of NPHET, said we are moving in the right direction:
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast with Susan Keogh, she said she would share "cautious optimism" about the recent trends.
She said: "What I think it does show is that people's behaviours are changing.
"How they're living their lives is changing, what they're doing in terms of their contacts, what they're doing in terms of the people they're meeting, the fact that they're staying at home, the fact that there's less travel on the roads.
"These would have been examples of what was happening in Level 3, I think that can only be improved in Level 5.
"It's a really good example of when people make a positive change, when we model good behaviours, when we show other people how to do it, and that's all very welcome."
Dr Favier said GPs have seen big decreases in the number of contacts people meet, particularly among the 15-24 age group.
She said that people in that group would have had 11 to 15 contacts and that is now down to nearer five and six.
She added: "That means that that particular group that are so important to managing this outlook are really making a different
"They are showing us that we can make changes.
Dr Favier said GPs have also noticed that people are calling them with COVID-19 symptoms and seeking a test from work or a supermarket
She said anyone with symptoms should stay at home, and people awaiting a test should restrict their movements including and until they get a result.
She added that close contacts also need to restrict their movements for 14 days.
