Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed phase four of the Government's plan for reopening the country has been paused for another three weeks.
Under the plan, pubs which do not serve food, hotel bars and casinos were due to re-open on Monday, August 10th.
However, this has been delayed again and will be further considered in three weeks' time.
The numbers allowed to gather indoors and outdoors for gatherings will remain unchanged - a maximum of 50 indoors and 200 outdoors.
Phase four would have seen pubs, bars, hotel bars and casinos re-open - while gatherings of up to 100 people indoors and 500 outdoors would have been permissible.
Face coverings will also be mandatory in all shops from August 10th.
Five destinations currently on the Government's 'green list' for travel are being removed.
These are Cyprus, Malta, Gibraltar, Monaco and San Marino.
Mr Martin explained this was due to "deteriorating virus numbers".
There are also no additions to the list of countries that people do not need to self-isolate on their return to Ireland.
Mr Martin said: "Pubs, bars, hotel bars, nightclubs and casinos will remain closed.
"Also the current restrictions on numbers attending indoor and outdoor gatherings will remain unchanged.
"We will review the evidence again in three weeks' time.
"I know that this will come as a blow to pub owners, and I want them to know that I've enormous sympathy for their plight."
"As we've seen with face coverings on public transport and the many other requests that have been made of citizens over the course of the pandemic, when people are given a clear direction they follow it".
The acting Chief Medical Officer says today's decisions were made with the international context of the virus in mind.
Dr Ronan Glynn added that health officials do not want to take any chances.
"But it is really important that we protect the progress that we have achieved to date, and that we do not now take any unnecessary risks that could result in a possible move back to earlier phases".
Phase four was originally due to come into effect on July 20th, but was originally put back due to a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases.
Earlier today, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar had said the Government was going to be cautious.
He said: "We had a meeting with the Acting Chief Medical Officer now, and we'll have a Cabinet meeting next and a decision will be made at Cabinet and we'll announce it afterwards.
Mr Varadkar said he did not want to preempt any decision, but added: "What I can say is it's unfortunate truth that this pandemic is still raging across the world, and even in Europe where it's under relative control.
"And we want to make sure we do nothing that jeopardizes the opening of schools and colleges over the next couple of weeks.
"That's why, on the advice of NPHET, we'll be recommending to Cabinet that we take a very cautious approach for the next couple of weeks.
"I know that's going to come as a further blow to some of the sectors that have not been re-opened - but we just can't risk moving backwards to risk the schools re-opening".
