Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told the Cabinet there are no indications that Covid-19 levels are low enough to allow any easing of the restrictions next week.
The coronavirus death toll in the Republic of Ireland has risen to 1,159 after a further 59 deaths were today reported by the Department of Health.
A government spokeswoman said Mr Varadkar briefed Cabinet on the national response to coronavirus and said that the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) will consider the current restrictions further on Friday, ahead of a Cabinet meeting later that day.
The Cabinet also received an update on the progression of Covid-19 in the Republic of Ireland, the current position on testing and contact tracing and the current position regarding long-term care facilities.
It comes after an infectious disease specialist warned that returning to normal life after the Covid-19 emergency will be a crawl due to the complexity of the virus.
The NPHET met this morning to review the impact of Covid-19 and the existing measures in place to limit the spread of the disease.
Restrictions are due to expire on Tuesday May 5 but chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has warned they would not be changed drastically.
Infectious Diseases Society of Ireland president and National Immunisation Advisory Committee chairwoman Professor Karina Butler said we must be sure that everything is in place to deal with potential outbreaks of Covid-19 when restrictions are eased.
Prof Butler told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that changes to the testing criteria will give a better idea of how common the virus is in the community.
She said: "We're in a lot better place than we might have been if decisive steps hadn't been taken."
Prof Butler said the safe return to normality will be "a crawl", warning the virus is "unique and stealthy".
She said it has been two months since we first encountered the virus and there are now almost 20,000 cases and more than 1,000 deaths.
However, increased testing and rapid contact tracing should help the country to live alongside the virus, she said.
Prof Butler added: "We need all of the things to be in place so we can safely crawl back to normality. I think it will be a crawl."
The criteria for Covid-19 testing are being broadened from this morning to include more suspected cases of the virus.
People with either a recent cough, fever or shortness of breath can now get access to a test.
She said increasing the criteria for testing will "give us an overall idea of how prevalent the virus is in the community".
The Irish College of General Practitioners said the increase in testing is welcome.
It said: "As we approach next week where there is a hope the lockdown scenario will be eased, we have to do a lot more testing and tracing to make sure that the country stays on top of Covid-19 and this pandemic can come to an end."
An announcement on whether or not restrictions will be lifted or eased is expected after a special Cabinet meeting on Friday.
