"We continue to see a concerning pattern of cases, particularly in Dublin."

Cases of Covid-19 in Dublin could double within two weeks, professor Phillip Nolan has warned. Speaking at Wednesday night's press briefing, Nolan said NPHET is currently "very concerned" about the situation in the nation's capital. He said: "While the reproduction number for Ireland as a whole is close to 1.0, the reproduction number for Dublin alone is approximately 1.4. "We are seeing increasing case numbers in Dublin, growing close to 5% per day. If this were to continue, the number of cases would double every 14 days. "Given the size of Dublin's population it is essential we prevent any further spread now – by limiting our social contacts and taking precautions during any essential contacts." Ireland's Covid figures on Wednesday saw 84 new cases recorded, 51 of which were in Dublin. Three new deaths were also reported on Wednesday. The 14-day incidence of Covid-19 infection in Dublin has also risen significantly in recent days to 70.8 cases per 100,000 people. The rate was 53.2 just six days ago. Though it remains unclear whether local lockdown restrictions may be put in place, acting CMO Ronan Glynn said that NPHET will meet today to make recommendations to the Government. Experts are also currently worried about the situation in Limerick, with the figures there also being monitored closely.