Senior ministers and officials will continue their considerations today about what approach to take regarding the National Public Health Emergency Team's recommendation of introducing Level 5 restrictions across the country for six weeks.
A Cabinet meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow and it's expected at that point, a decision will be taken on what additional restrictions should be imposed.
The Department of Health yesterday confirmed 1,276 new cases of Covid-19 - the highest daily increase since the virus emerged.
The national 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 of the population currently stands at 231. At the start of this month- this rate was just over 100.