The Taoiseach has confirmed that additional restrictions will be introduced before New Years Eve.
NEW: Taoiseach says more COVID restrictions will be put in place before the end of the year. Cabinet meeting next Tuesday
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) December 17, 2020
It comes as the rate of transmission continues to rise.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly told the Dáil this afternoon that the estimate 'R' number is between 1.1 and 1.3.
He revealed he had a "long and sobering" conversation with Dr Tony Holohan, after a NPHET meeting.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly tells the Dáil the R number of the virus is now between 1.1 and 1.3 after speaking with CMO Dr Tony Holohan. He describes the situation as "precarious"
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) December 17, 2020
484 New Cases Of Covid-19 And Three Additional Deaths
The number of cases continue to rise here, with 484 new cases identified in the last 24 hours.
The Department of Health have been notified of three additional death related to the virus.
Of the cases notified today, 246 are men while 238 are women.
Most people -59% - are aged under 45 years of age.
The median age is 37 years old.
Most cases of Covid-19 are in Dublin, where there are 150 cases.
Elsewhere, there are 45 cases in Wexford, 40 in Cork, 32 in Donegal and 29 in Limerick.
The remaining 188 cases are spread across all 20 other counties
The 14 Day Incident Rate is estimated to be 94.2 per 100,000 population.
