Education Minister Norma Foley has said parents should consider cancelling their children’s birthday parties and playdates.
Minister Foley asked people to "hunker down" in light of the rise in Covid-19 cases.
She said with the return of playdates and birthday parties, people need to be vigilant and restrictive with their social engagement and reconsider these events.
She said: "We have worked very well in ensuring our schools can operate ... and we have been told clearly that the issue remains more so in wider society.
"Therefore, the ask is on wider society to shoulder the responsibility.
“There is a window of opportunity to re-assert ourselves and do the right thing.
“We are in a different setting now.”
Speaking to RTÉ’s Claire Byrne show Minister Foley said plans for the use of antigen testing in schools is expected to be in place by the end of this week.
She said: "We await finalisation of those plans and it is my understanding they will be finalised in the next day or two.”
She said plans are expected to include advice for how school principals should approach the confirmation of a positive case.
Teachers would not be "fast-tracked" for booster vaccines either she said adding that the roll out of booster jabs is based on age.
It comes as Taoiseach Micheál Martin has indicated that more Covid-19 restrictions may be on the way as fears grow of a return to tough measures at Christmas.
In a U-turn, the Government has reintroduced a number of measures including a curfew for pubs, restaurants and nightclubs with customers to be off premises by midnight from Thursday.
