Restrictions on group activities will be with us for some time, according to the chair of NPHET's Epidemiological Modeling Advisory Group.
Professor Philip Nolan said such restrictions are necessary to protect the priorities of schools, work, healthcare and sport.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said limiting discretionary contacts over the winter is also necessary if we want to keep schools and workplaces open.
He was speaking after local restrictions put in place for Co Kildare in early August to combat a spike of coronavirus were lifted yesterday evening.