The lockdown is set to be extended until March 5th when the cabinet meets this morning.
The cabinet sub-committee on COVID has also agreed to tighten the restrictions on international travel while considering further NPHET advice.
Cabinet will extend the lockdown by around 6 weeks until March 5th.
It's expected all current restrictions will stay in place, including on construction.
The re-opening of special education and the wider school system was left more open-ended as negotiations between the Department and unions continue.
The cabinet sub-committee also approved mandatory two week quarantining for anyone arriving into the country without a negative PCR test.
Fines of €2,500 or a six month prison sentence could also apply.
The same rules will apply for anyone coming from Brazil or South Africa.
Passengers will have to quarantine at state-chosen hotels - but will be able to leave if they get a negative PCR test after 5 days.
Mandatory self-isolation for all passengers will become a legal requirement, with spot checks and fines by gardaí.
There will be increased garda presence near ports and airports to question people as to whether their trips are essential, and they will be able to hand out increased fines.
The measures are all expected to be approved by cabinet this morning, but may take some time to implement.
Infectious Disease Specialist at the RCSI, Sam McConkey says the government is broadly moving in the right direction:
