The Chief Medical Officer says there are encouraging signs the country will be in a position to start easing the lockdown next week.
Phase one of the Government's plan is due to begin on Monday, which includes the resumption of outdoor work and the re-opening of some retail stores.
However a final decision will be made later this week, once updated advice is provided by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
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A new helpline is being set up today, especially for GPs who have concerns over COVID-19 testing.
Doctors will be able to contact HSE staff for answers on delays to testing results for their patients.
It comes as new figures show there are 23,242 confirmed cases of the virus, while 1,488 people have died.
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The Garda Representative Association (GRA) says it is concerned by the lack of progress being made to reduce the turnaround time when testing officers for COVID-19.
A test currently takes five days from the time a person's referred, to the start of contact tracing.
Latest figures show there have been 64 incidents of Gardaí being coughed or spat at in the past month.
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The Education Minister Joe McHugh will face questions in the Dáil this afternoon on the decision to scrap the Leaving Certificate.
He will be quizzed by TDs at the start of a two day Dáil session.
There have been mixed views on the predictive grading model teachers will be enforcing and still many questions from leaving cert students and their families about how the system will impact them.
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At least 169 people have been waiting at least a year to be seen by the HSE's National Counselling Service.
They are all based in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.
The statistics involve counselling in primary care, along with those who have suffered a bereavement or need help due to suicidal thoughts or self-harm.
