Ireland has just two weeks to prevent another lockdown as cases continue to soar across the country.
Harsh coronavirus restrictions are currently in place in Dublin for the next 3 weeks following an alarming spike in the capital in recent weeks.
However a NPHET expert has warned the rest of the country is just two weeks behind Dublin warning the coming days are crucial to stop the spread of the virus.
Speaking on Wednesday Professor Philip Nolan said that "incidence is growing rapidly” across the country.
The reproduction number being below zero is the “only sustainable” growth rate, the Professor said.
He adds that the rest of the country is “a week or two behind Dublin” but it “will catch up if nothing changes”.
The National Public Health Emergency Team will meet this afternoon to discuss the current Covid-19 situation.
Worrying trends have cropped up in recent days in other counties with Donegal, Waterford and Louth facing the biggest threat of new restrictions.
However Dublin is also facing further restrictions again as the capital remains the epicentre of the virus.
On Friday there were 234 new cases while sadly two more people passed away due to Covid-19.
Of those cases 103 were in Dublin.
Dr Nolan said of the figures: "While 14-day incidence and daily incidence have stopped rising in the last few days, it is too early to conclude that there has been any change in the pattern of disease.
"The reproduction number over the last two weeks remains high, at between 1.5 and 1.7, growth rate between 5 and 6.1, and doubling time between 12 and 14 days.
"If we are starting to suppress the virus again, it is essential that we maintain this effort: limit our social contacts, limit mixing between households. The next ten days are critical."
