Mask wearing, social distancing indoors and Covid certs could be kept in place as far as Spring 2022.
NPHET have recommended that a pause be put on Ireland's full reopening this Friday, although some restrictions could still be eased.
The amount of people allowed at indoor and outdoor events is one possible area that will see restrictions eased.
And there is still a possibility that nightclubs could open later this week.
Speaking to reporters this morning, the Taoiseach Micheal Martin said: "The next number of months really depends on the collective behaviour of us and the entire society.
"We will have a challenging winter due to transmissibility of the delta variant but we do know vaccines work in terms of bringing down hospitalisation, ICU and severe illness.
"In addition to that, a whole range of measures that NPHET are recommending, around behaviour, around masks, continued wearing of masks in a whole range of settings as well a Covid passes which government will consider later."
He added we are in a "much different position from last year" and must "proceed with caution".
The Cabinet will meet today to consider the latest worrying concerns of NPHET, as numbers in hospital with the deadly virus hit close to 500 yesterday.
A senior source close to NPHET said they would be “shocked” if the Government proceeded with lifting physical distancing restrictions.
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