The Cabinet will meet this afternoon to consider bringing in full level five lockdown restrictions.
That would involve non-essential retail and gyms closing and travel limited to five kilometres from your home.
The ban on household visits, due to come in on New Year's Day, could also be brought forward.
It's after 1,546 new cases of COVID-19 were reported yesterday - a record daily figure.
Hospitalisations are also continuing to climb, with 454 COVID-19 patients in hospitals this morning - including 59 admissions in the last 24 hours.
Officials have warned that the vaccination programme which started yesterday won't have an impact on virus rates in the coming weeks.
The start of our #COVID19 vaccination programme is a very significant positive milestone.
But vaccines will not positively impact on the profile of this disease in Ireland in the coming weeks. 1/3
@roinnslainte @ICGPnews @RCPI_news @HSELive— Dr Ronan Glynn (@ronan_glynn) December 29, 2020
A phased move to level five is currently ongoing, although the likes of gyms and non-essential retail were last week given the green light to remain reopen.
However, NPHET has recommended the introduction of full level five lockdown measures.
