Hotel quarantine may be reintroduced in response to a new variant emerging from South Africa.
The World Health Organisation is meeting today to assess the seriousness of the situation.
Dozens of cases have been identified in the country, while a number have also been confirmed in Botswana, Hong Kong and Israel.
It's feared the new strain could make vaccines less effective, and countries are now considering travel bans for the southern African region.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee says government will need to act quickly:
"If we have a new variant. If it is as virulent and as easily transmittable as is suggested, I think we need to make sure that we move quickly. Now that might mean restriction of travel, but also it might mean the reintroduction of hotel quarantine so all of this needs to be discussed."
