New restrictions are likely to be implemented in Dublin.

With cases of Covid-19 on the rise in the capital, the National Public Health Expert Team (NPHET) will meet today to discuss containment measures that would see Dublin move from Level Two on the Government’s ‘Living with Covid’  risk rating to Level Three.

It is likely that any new measures will be put in place before the weekend.

A further 254 cases of coronavirus were reported in Ireland last night, with three new deaths from the disease. 136 of the new cases were recorded in Dublin, where there has been a significant spike in outbreaks.

Seven of the new cases were recorded in Cork.

Situation analysis. For a playback of @President_MU‘s commentary on these slides, you can watch back the live stream of the briefing on @roinnslainte. #COVID19 13/13 pic.twitter.com/oMskcbThLj

— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) September 16, 2020

“This disease is spreading rapidly,” said Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of NPHET’s Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group.

“I am more concerned than I have been at any point since late April,”

Professor Nolan said that hospitalisations and deaths from Covid-19 are increasing and that case number are on the rise among over 65s, which make up 10% of the new cases reported.

‘We have seen particularly concerning trends’

In a letter to the Government outlining his concerns, acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn warned that Dublin was a “disease reservoir”.

Dr Glynn said the spike in cases is of national concern, with case numbers growing rapidly all over the country:

“Along with Dublin we have seen particularly concerning trends in Louth, Waterford and Donegal,” he said.

“It is now absolutely essential that people action public health advice and act as if they or those close to them are potentially infectious.”

After today’s NPHET meeting, the recommendations will be considered by a Cabinet subcommittee chaired by Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Friday morning, later going before a meeting of the Cabinet.