NPHET is reported to have advised the Government last night to put the country into Level 5 for six weeks, hours after Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan issued a stark three-word warning.
According to reports this morning, the public health body told Health Minister Stephen Donnelly in a letter, that the highest Lockdown level should be introduced in a desperate bid to curve the current spike.
But in this letter, NPHET is said to have recommended that schools remain open according to The Irish Daily Mail.
It also noted that it would reconsider the Level's strictness on the elderly with over 70s currently being asked to cocoon at this level.
This revelation comes as the CMO said that it was clear that Covid-19 in Ireland was "not in control".
Warning that the disease had nearly "doubled" in the last two weeks, he said Ireland is still facing a serious challenge.
He said: "It’s clear the disease is not in control. That's the situation in the North of Ireland.
"That's the same situation in Europe. We share that challenge.
"Almost no country in Europe could regard them as having this virus in control."
He added: “The data is clear - The infection has added at least 50% in the last seven days.
"It has close to doubled in the ten days since the beginning of last week."
