That's according to the head of the HSE
Health officials are expecting significant numbers of new cases in the coming days, as more workers in meat factories are tested.
Many of the 174 new cases confirmed yesterday have been linked to those settings.
The spike in new infections has led to Kildare, Offaly and Laois being put on lockdown for the next 2 weeks.
CEO of the HSE, Paul Reid, says efforts need to be made to control outbreaks in meat plants:
