There is now a strong possibility that the Government will agree to impose further Covid-19 restrictions on Donegal as early as tonight.

There are indications from Government Buildings that a decision will be taken this evening arising from a National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) recommendation.

It comes after the Taoiseach said the next ten days are critical in the battle against Covid-19.

Micheál Martin said there were concerns about large urban areas including Waterford, Cork, Limerick and Galway as well as Donegal and some other areas.

He would not be drawn on whether further restrictions could be announced tomorrow on the back of advice from the National Public Health Emergency team (NPHET).

He said the Government is working with NPHET and will assess the advice.

On Dublin, he indicated it was too early for further measures saying it was just the first week of a three-week period.

Mr Martin was visiting Oliver Bond street flats and meeting community activists following a party widely criticised for being in breach of public health guidelines there last weekend.

Co Donegal is teetering on the edge of the imposition of Level 3 Covid-19 restrictions.

The 14-day incidence of the disease shot up again today and is now at 122.5 confirmed cases per 100,000 people.

This is up from 106.2 yesterday, the sharpest jump recorded by any county in the country.

Two and a half weeks ago the 14-day incidence rate for Donegal was below 20. So there has been a six-fold increase in the number of active or open infections in 16 days.

On top of that 30 new cases in Donegal were confirmed by the Department of Health yesterday evening. They have yet to be added in and are sure to drive the incidence rate even higher.

This is a serious situation for people throughout the county.

The Minister for Higher Education has warned that the decisions each person makes in the next week will be crucial.

Simon Harris said we are now at a crucial juncture and that "we have about a week" to determine the course of the virus.

"I don't think there’s anybody in this country who forgets what the situation was like in March or April, it is not inevitable that we end up back there, it’s far from inevitable.

"We have about a week, every single one of us, to decide what are we going to do to make sure that we do not go back to those dark days," he said.

The Minister said this is a nationwide challenge and that he fears that the virus is beginning to run ahead of us again.

"We cannot allow this to happen," he said.

He appealed to people of all ages across the country to listen to public health advice and act on it.

He said the message is very simple and clear; keep your distance and make a conscious effort to reduce the number of social contacts we have.

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