The HSE has said it can't dispute projections that as many as 1.9 million people could fall ill with the coronavirus.
Health officials said the modelling scenario is not completed yet but that trends in Italy suggest large numbers of cases will be recorded, according to RTE.
So far there has been 19 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Republic of Ireland with seven further in Northern Ireland.
A study in the British Medical Journal last week projected that all cases would hit in a short period of time with huge pressure being put on health services.
Meanwhile the Department of Foreign Affairs has updated their travel advice for Italy and urged people to exercise a "high degree of caution" in some areas.
A department spokesperson said: " There has been an increase in the number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Italy. As a result, the Italian government has isolated the towns of Codogno, Castiglione d’Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Fombio, Maleo, Somaglia, Bertonico, Terranova deiPasserini, Castelgerundo and San Fiorano (which are in Lombardy) and Vo’ (which is in Veneto).
"In a wider area comprising Lombardy and Veneto, as well as Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont, certain public services, tourist attractions, bars, restaurants and/or cultural events etc. may be curtailed depending on decisions taken by local authorities.
"For the moment, we are advising against non-essential travel to the regions of Lombardy, Veneto, Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna."
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