The Chief Medical Officer says it's unlikely we'll avoid a significant surge of Covid-19 in early January.
Public health officials don't believe daily case numbers will fall any further this side of Christmas.
The 7 day incidence rate increased by 13 per cent over the course of the last week, with 242 new cases confirmed yesterday evening.
Dr Tony Holohan says the level of socialisation over Christmas will likely lead to a challenging level of disease in the New Year.
