Dr Tony Holohan had stern words for the nation this evening as a move to Level Three coronavirus restrictions was on the cards.
As another 518 Covid-19 cases were announced, the returning Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health said there had been a "significant and concerning deterioration" of the virus situation in Ireland.
The top doctor had stepped down in July when he tragically revealed his wife had entered palliative care after an ongoing cancer battle.
Tonight he returned to the main job after a meeting of NPHET had recommended a move to Level Five restrictions - a proposal rejected by Government.
His full statement read: “We have seen in recent days a significant and concerning deterioration in the epidemiological situation nationally.
“It is vital that we do everything in our power now to arrest the current trajectory nationally and very substantially suppress the virus back down to a low level of transmission in advance of the winter months.
“Do not become distracted from the core public health messages; wash hands regularly, keep your distance, wear face coverings where appropriate, avoid crowded environments, cut your social contacts down to minimum levels, know the symptoms and isolate yourself and contact your GP immediately if you experience them.”
Dr Holohan had been temporarily replaced by Dr Ronan Glynn, who resumed his duties as deputy.
Dr Glynn said tonight: "Our core priorities have to be protected. We must work together to keep our non-Covid health services open, keep our children in education and protect the lives of the most vulnerable to this disease.
“Solidarity is now more important than ever as we work to once again suppress this virus in our communities.”
As of midnight Sunday October 4 the HPSC was notified of 518 newly-confirmed cases of Covid-19.
Of the cases notified today:
- 252 are men / 266 are women
- 68% are under 45 years of age
- 30% are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case
- 78 cases have been identified as community transmission
- 134 in Dublin, 53 in Cork, 49 in Limerick, 34 in Donegal, 32 in Meath and the remaining 216 cases are spread across 20 counties
