Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has urged people to practice caution as much as possible particularly in the run-up to schools reopening.
Speaking on Monday, the top doctor said that the Delta variant had allowed Covid-19 to regain a "foothold" in Ireland despite the high level of vaccination rates across the country.
His comments came as a further 1,558 Covid-19 cases were confirmed on Monday.
Hospitals continue to face increased pressure in the coming weeks following a recent resurgence of the virus in recent weeks.
Delta Warning
Dr Holohan said: “Though we have growing levels of vaccination across the population, there is now a very high level of disease circulating in the community. The Delta variant has enabled Covid-19 to regain a foothold in Ireland, which puts us all at risk as social contacts and mobility increase. We are closely monitoring the spread of the virus with some concern.
"Vaccines will help us turn the tide, but we are not there yet. We need to give vaccines the time and space to build up levels of protection across all demographics so that we can continue to progress the re-opening of all sectors of society and our economy.
"Please get vaccinated as soon as a vaccine is offered to you. It is also very important that people receive their second dose of vaccine as soon as you are called to do so. You will be fully protected one or two weeks after your second dose, depending on which vaccine you have received.
"I am asking people to be cautious and to closely follow public health advice over the coming weeks, in particular in the run-up to schools reopening in September.
"We all know what this means, and, more importantly, we know that by following the public health advice we can drive down incidence of Covid-19 in our communities.
"If you have any symptoms that indicate that you may have COVID-19 like cough, fever, headache, sore throat and blocked or runny nose isolate and get a test immediately. Make plans to socialise safely and risk assess as you go, meet up with others outdoors if possible, try to meet up in small groups and avoid crowds. If you do not feel safe, then leave.
"Please continue to wear a mask where appropriate, wash your hands, manage your contacts and maintain your social distance."
Booster shots
While Ireland has had an incredible uptake of the vaccine, reports continue to emerge about plans to administer booster Covid-19 shots.
Currently, over 80% of people in Ireland are vaccinated however it looks as though plans are being put in place for healthcare workers and vulnerable people to receive a booster Covid-19 jab as early as September.
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The Irish Independent has reported that it is hoped the booster shots will provide extra immunity for older and vulnerable people who are most at risk of the virus.
This is currently being done in Germany and France while Israel authorised booster shots earlier this year.
The US is also likely to plough ahead with plans to offer booster shots in the coming weeks.
Reason for hope
A leading immunology expert is predicting that Irish life could look "very different" this time next year in terms of the situation with Covid-19.
Professor Kingston Mills, from Trinity College Dublin, believes that the vaccination programme will have a big impact on normality returning.
However, he also outlined that one factor could scupper the resumption of life as we knew it before March 2020.
Professor Mills, a professor in experimental immunology, praised the fact that the Irish population were availing of the jab in their droves.
When asked on Newstalk's Moncrieff show what the situation in Ireland will be in 12 months time, he said: "I think very different, I hope I'm right on this.
"Most developed countries that have bought into vaccines, and it has to be said, Ireland is one of the best countries in the world in terms of the buy-in to the vaccines.
"The uptake amongst all the age groups above 35 has been phenomenal.
"And hopefully that will be reflected in the younger age groups eventually when they get through all the people remaining to be vaccinated".
However, the thing that could scupper this progress is if "we have a very difficult variant that might emerge."
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