Health officials have already warned a "significant" number of new infections could be reported over the next seven days.
The Cabinet sub-committee on Covid 19 is holding a virtual meeting today, with the recent spike in cases among the items to be discussed.
The increase has led to restrictions being re-imposed for two weeks in Kildare, Laois and Offaly.
But Tomás Ryan, an immunology professor at Trinity College Dublin, says the measures may need to stay in place for longer:
