New modelling suggests COVID-19 has reached a plateau here, and the virus has been suppressed.

However, there is a warning that relaxing restrictions in place on travel and work could see the rate of infection begin to grow again.

Officials have also said there's a "different experience" of the virus in nursing homes and residential institutions than we're seeing in the wider community.

Latest figures show the total number of deaths in Ireland has reached 486, while the number of confirmed cases stands at 13,271.

However, new modelling data released yesterday evening shows a marked change in the growth rate of cases, the reproduction number and the amount of people being admitted to intensive care.

Professor Philip Nolan, chair of the Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said the data suggests COIVD-19 is under control here.

The latest data indicates the reproduction number of the virus - referring to the number of people likely to be infected by someone who already has the virus - has fallen below one.

Prof Nolan explained: "Two messages there: an optimistic or hopeful message that we have controlled or suppressed the disease, but an equally important message that the reproduction number was quite high before the measures of 28th March were introduced.

"If we're thinking about relaxing measures even slightly, we need to be careful we don't go back to that reproduction number."

He said the country may have "reached a plateau", noting: "We're in a very delicate balance between suppression of the disease and potential future spike of the disease."

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan, meanwhile, said the restrictions in place in recent weeks have had a significant effect.

Figures show more than half of all coronavirus-related deaths have happened in nursing homes, and there have been more than 150 clusters in those settings.

Dr Holohan explained: “We’re seeing a different experience of this infection in the general population than we’re seeing in nursing homes and residential settings.

“It seems to be [that we’ve] suppressed the infection… that it’s stopped growing, in effect, and we’re seeing that across a number of parameters."

Dr Holohan said there has been “very significant progress” in driving the virus from the wider community, and that officials are now continuing to focus on nursing homes and other locations where there has been a “particular challenge”.

Meanwhile, the National Public Health Emergency Team is due to meet this morning to review the State's response to COVID-19.

Dr Holohan says this morning's meeting will focus on how any restrictions could be lifted next month, with the measures in place for nursing homes also set to be discussed.

Main image: Pictured Chair of NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group (IEMAG) Professor Philip Nolan. Photo: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie