NPHET says the number of Covid-19 patients in hospital is growing ‘exponentially’.
The chairman of its modelling group says an average of 13 patients are being admitted every day.
Professor Philip Nolan says ICU admissions are also rising rapidly.
The total number of cases reached 40,000 last night, after 506 new infections were confirmed.
Meanwhile the Health Minister says he did not leak the information about The National Public Health Emergency Team asking for level five restrictions to be introduced.
Stephen Donnelly was questioned in the Dáil last night, after it emerged he knew they were considering upping restrictions long before some of his government colleagues.
The Minister informed the Taoiseach of a potential move to level four before NPHET met on Sunday.
But Stephen Donnelly insists no one had mentioned the possibility of level five:
