Cabinet has approved new COVID-19 restrictions to take effect from Christmas Eve.
While Christmas isn't being cancelled, activity will be severely limited once again in the coming days and weeks.
Restaurants and pubs that serve food will have to close from 3pm on Christmas Eve - along with hairdressers, barbers, beauticians, cinemas and galleries.
From midnight on the 26th, inter-county travel will be restricted.
However, there will be exemptions for people who need to get home after the Christmas break.
Hotels are also expected to be closed after St Stephen's Day for non-essential stays.
From December 27th, people will only be allowed to have visitors from one other household in their home.
Christmas Day mass is likely to be the last one of the year, as worship will again move online.
The travel ban from the UK has also been extended until the end of the year.
Cabinet was warned the number of new cases today will be over 900 - the highest number since Halloween.
The new restrictions will be reviewed on January 12th.
The measures are expected to be formally announced by Taoiseach Micheál Martin early this afternoon.
