Ireland risks heading back to phase two of lockdown if the country sees coronavirus cases rise by more than 100 a day.
Dr Cillian De Gascun, Consultant Virologist and Laboratory Director at the National Virus Reference Lab, issued the stark warning as he insisted that the virus needs to be eliminated from the community if we are to avoid returning to strict lockdown restrictions.
Dr De Gascun said that while we have a good handle on where the rise in infections is occurring, a continued rise in cases could set the country back.
Speaking on RTE's Today with Sarah McInerney, Cillian De Gascun said: "Once we start getting into the high double digits or over 100[cases] a day then we would be in a very difficult place.
"What we would be looking at is perhaps taking a step backwards into phase two."
He added: "We would be looking at trying to reduce people's risk of acquiring infection in the community. So some of the services that opened in phase three we may have to look at closing those down again."
However, De Gascun added that a return to strict lockdown is not a guarantee and that efforts can be made to curb future spread.
He said: "We can still have an affect on what happens between August 10. We can't change the infections that have already occurred.
"So next week the die is cast but after that we can have an impact. If people adopt the measures and re-energise themselves and really take on the public health advice.
"If there's widespread community transmission of the virus, then it will get into schools, into residential care facilities, and into nursing homes - but if we can stamp it out in the community, that's how we protect everybody."
It comes as acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn yesterday warned that Ireland is at a time of "high uncertainty" following the announcement that 21 new cases had been confirmed.
Meanwhile the R rate has now risen above 1 which could see cases surge soon.
Professor Philip Nolan of NPHET said: "Our best estimate of the R-number currently stands at 1.4 but it could be as high as 1.8. We have an opportunity now to maintain suppression of the virus.”
This week Taoiseach Micheal Martin announced that Ireland would not proceed with phase four of easing restrictions on Monday following concerns about rising cases.
Pubs that do not serve food across the country will remain shut while plans to allow larger indoor and outdoor gathering have all been pushed back to August 10.
