A member of the National Public Health Emergency Team says she "fears" Covid restrictions could be inevitable, due to rising case numbers.
The seven-day average of Covid-19 cases has increased by 77 per cent in the past three weeks.
There have been 15,740 cases confirmed in the most recent week.
The Chief Medical Officer is urging people to reduce their social contacts.
NPHET member Dr. Mary Favier says she worries restrictions could be needed.
"I fear they are, and it's just so depressing to think about it.
"Nobody has the stomach to go back, and we need to find ways to work around this and stop it form happening.
"We are victims unfortunately of our fragile health service, which has been under funded and under resourced over the years, and our tipping point is at a much lower point for us in Ireland compared to many other countries."
