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The Minister for Health has said the COVID-19 outbreak in Ireland is "continuing to deteriorate".
The Cabinet is meeting now to consider reintroducing level five restrictions, which would close non-essential retail and gyms.
They are also considering recommendations over whether people will be required to stay within five kilometres of their home.
It comes as the CEO of the HSE warned that his worst concerns over coronavirus have been realised.
Paul Reid added that positivity rates for tests on some days are reaching as high as 20%, with the R-number of transmission now at 1.8.
Speaking ahead of today's Cabinet meeting, the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly expressed his concern about the impact of the new strain of COVID-19.