Irish people have been encouraged to "mask up" over the coming weeks as Covid-19 cases have seen a "significant" increase in recent days.
Case numbers have risen considerably across Europe, with more people testing positive for the virus each day.
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has now urged people to consider wearing face masks in public settings once again.
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Speaking to RTÉ News on Tuesday morning following a meeting with the new Chief Medical Officer, Professor Breda Smyth, he said: "[We] had a very good briefing last night by the new CMO, who just set out the epidemiological situation.
"And it does appear that we are now seeing Covid cases rising again in Ireland and indeed across Europe, but we would expect to be able to banish that without having to impose any new restrictions on people.
"But [we are] very much re-emphasising that message – to consider wearing a mask in crowded scenarios, please get your up-to-date vaccine.
"I see being vaccinated as a bit like your phone being charged over time; the immunity wanes, and the battery goes down, and you need to get vaccinated again."
The news comes after Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly issued a grim update on the possibility of winter restrictions.
The Health Minister was speaking as he brought a memo to the Government outlining what steps will be taken if there's another Covid wave this winter.
He said he brought the memo to Cabinet with advice from Chief Medical Officer Professor Breda Smyth .
It noted that face coverings could become mandatory once again in specific settings.
The memo said that, if required, the introduction of mask mandates in certain settings like transport and healthcare will involve "a point-in-time assessment of indicators", saying this will require "due consideration of the personal, ethical, and public health perspectives", RTE reports.
Speaking to reporters this morning, Minister Donnelly said: "Obviously, we hope things can remain relatively calm with Covid, but we can't plan on that basis.
"We've seen a very significant increase in Covid hospitalisations over the last week. Now only 40% of them are in hospital because of Covid, however, everyone who is in hospital with Covid, they need to be cared for, obviously, but there are also knock on effects because of infection prevention control measures.
"So for every person, we have in a hospital bed with Covid, there's a knock on effect on other beds and other parts of the hospital that need to not work at full capacity for infection prevention control reasons.
"So really, the conversation I'll be having with Cabinet this morning is around, we know we're facing into a very difficult winter , we know it's going to be very difficult for patients, we know it's going to be difficult for our healthcare professionals right across the country.
"We've a big investment, big recruitment around emergency departments, and an ongoing focus through the autumn and the winter on Covid and living with Covid."
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