Testing for the coronavirus should double this week.
The HSE says its capacity to test for Covid 19 will rise to 4,500 tests a day.
There have been almost 5 thousand confirmed cases of the virus here and 158 people have lost their lives.
The Taoiseach has re-joined the medical register and will do one shift a week to help out during the crisis.
Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty feels off it’s a good thing to do.
"As far as I know he's doing telephone assessments for people who call with initial symptoms to determine whether they get sent for tests or not.
"If he has time to spare on a Sunday that helps the entire country going through what we're going through, on top of everything else he's doing as Taoiseach, I think fair play to him, hats off."
