The chief medical officer says the country will only be re-opened in a cautious and conservative manner, to try prevent further Covid-19 restrictions later this year.
1,339 people with the virus have died, after a further 23 fatalities were confirmed, while the number of cases has risen to just under 22,000.
Ireland's gradual easing of measures, between now and August, is much slower than in other countries.
But Dr Tony Holohan is defending the approach:.
"We are going to be conservative about this, we are going to be cautious about this.
"This is a virus that is very transmittal, it's a virus where if we lose control in the way that is still possible, as much as it was in the early days of February, we could have a very significant challenge in our healthcare system, a very significant impact more importantly on the health of people, and we could be walking back a road in terms of reintroduction of restrictions."
Meanwhile almost 30,000 people have now died of the coronavirus in the UK - the highest number in Europe.
Britain and Northern Ireland yesterday overtook Italy, which has 29,300 deaths.
