The Health Minister is playing down the impact of international travel on the spread of the coronavirus.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says just four cases over the past six weeks have been people who've come off flights from the US.
It follows the news that we won't be moving to phase four of the easing of coronavirus restrictions next week.
The reproductive rate of the virus has now increased to between 1.2 and 1.8 and phase four has been delayed until August 10th.
It means pubs, nightclubs and casinos can't re-open and restrictions on public gatherings remain in place.
No more than 10 people can attend social gatherings in a house.
A 'green list' for international travel will be published on Monday, but Irish people are still being advised against any non-essential international travel.
Speaking yesterday evening, Minister Donnelly has played down the impact of tourists on the spread of the virus.
He said: "The latest figures are that nine in every ten new cases is domestic.
"The number of new cases from foreign travel is relatively small.
"For example, since the beginning of June, the total number of cases identified that are people who have come off flights from the United States is just four... [that's] in six weeks. And it's entirely possible that some of that may be Irish citizens living in America coming home.
"The numbers hopefully will comfort people... it's not to say we're not looking very seriously at travel next week."
Taoiseach Micheál Martin also dismissed the prospect of mandatory quarantine for new arrivals, saying there are "huge constraints" to doing it.
He stressed the Government is conscious of people's concerns, and that the Government will be taking "stronger measures" in terms of travel next week.
Face coverings
The Government also agreed yesterday that face coverings should be worn by all customers in shops and shopping centres.
Staff will also be required to wear a covering unless there is a partition between them and members of the public, or where there is a distance of two metres.
Regulations enforcing the new rules on masks will come into force in the coming weeks, with regulations now being drafted.
The delay to phase four also means gatherings of up 100 people indoors and 500 outdoors now won't be allowed until August 10th.
The current limits of 50 for indoor gatherings and 200 for outdoor ones will apply until then.
