The Tánaiste has warned there's no COVID strategy that can avoid rolling or snap lockdowns.
It comes as Level 5 restrictions are set to be extended until at least Easter.
While schools and the full construction sector are both set to return post-March 5th, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said most other restrictions are here for the long hall.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar also now saying it will be some time before restrictions are lifted.
He also warned this may not be the last lockdown.
Opposition parties have been critical of how the public found out about the extension.
Labour TD Aodhan O'Riordain criticising Leo Varadkar for suggesting just on Monday that some restrictions could be eased next month.
The government has also said it doesn't have a specific target for what levels of the virus could trigger the re-opening of the economy, saying a number of metrics including case numbers and hospitalisations will be used.
