The crucial Covid-19 'R' number has risen above one in Ireland.
Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn says the Irish R number is thought to now be between 1.2 and 1.8.
The news comes as Taoiseach Micheal Martin confirmed that Ireland will not move to phase four until August 10.
The extension of phase three means that facilities such as pubs, nightclubs, casinos, theatres, cinemas and galleries will now be unable to reopen.
Pubs and restaurants that have already opened can continue to operate in line with public health advice.
The number of people allowed to visit an individual home has been reduced to 10, from no more than four different households.
Meanwhile, the wearing of face coverings will be made mandatory when shopping.
On Monday, the wearing of face coverings on public transport was made law, punishable by a €2,500 fine or up to six months imprisonment.
Medics had expressed concern about the number of coronavirus cases in recent weeks as lockdown restrictions eased.
Dr Ronan Glynn, acting chief medical officer at the Department of Health, said: "We are at a sensitive stage in the pandemic - this requires caution and collective effort to hold firm and keep the virus suppressed in the community."
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Meanwhile, two more people have died with Covid-19 in Ireland, the National Public Health Emergency Team said, bringing the total to 1,748.
As of midnight on Tuesday, the health system had been notified of 14 more confirmed cases.
Publicans said they would now lose 40% of their trading year following the delay in reopening.
Licensed Vintners' Association's (LVA) chief executive Donall O'Keeffe said: "This is a hammer blow for our industry.
"It does appear that pubs are being singled out. Pubs were first closed and last to reopen.
"No other part of the domestic economy is still shut. We have continually been placed in the last phase of the reopening road map."
On Wednesday, Irish police said the vast majority of licensed premises had been found to be in compliance with regulations and licensing laws.
In 37 individual cases - including 26 during the weekend of July 3-5 - officers found potential breaches of health regulations or licensing laws even after providing premises with the opportunity to rectify the situation.
In all these cases, gardai found customers consuming alcohol but no evidence of food also being consumed and no evidence of receipts to show food had been sold.
John Twomey, deputy commissioner in charge of policing and security, said: "The continued high level of compliance among licensed premises is very welcome.
"However, there remains a minority who are putting their employees, their customers and their local community at risk of getting Covid-19."
