With case numbers soaring and hospital admissions threatening to overwhelm the hospital system, we are very much in the darkest moments before the dawn phase.
The promise of vaccines and a return to the way we were is still there but it will take time and at the moment there is no argument between the primacy of health over the economy.
The strictest level 5 lockdown from March is looming as a repeat and while elite sport continues for the moment there is little enough of it and all the underage group training that lifted spirits from June to November have now been halted as well.
Unless there is a significant improvement it looks likely that schools return will be delayed and it may well fall on clubs to step up again with volunteer capacity. Even that though is at risk with far higher numbers of community transmission and self-isolation than was even the case in March.
We clearly have to do whatever is required to get things back under control and heed the advice from those who understand the public health implications of each decision as well as those we have elected to lead us.
The GAA season does not return even for elite group training until January 15th and that looks probable to be delayed.
The League of Ireland will not now return until March 19th at the earliest, a full month later than had been hoped and would have been expected based on previous years.
Professional Rugby carries on with Connacht and Leinster playing on with shortened squads due to Covid tests but travel across national borders remaining severely restricted.
Horse and Greyhound racing will continue behind closed doors and the work of the team at Leopardstown in particular, and across the sport, provided a rare bright spot for Irish sport over the Christmas period.
Individual training can continue for now enabling our potential Olympians and Paralympians to keep on track, though rising case numbers and increased restrictions, as well as nervousness, in Japan mean that we are not yet on any home stretch towards the Games taking place.
We just need to do what we can as individuals and as responsible organisations to cut down the spread of the virus. There is more hope and understanding now than was the case back in March and April. We just need to hold our breath.
