'We're clearly now in a third wave' Professor Philip Nolan said there are very rapidly rising numbers, and "we're clearly now in a third wave".
He said case numbers are rising all across the country, with equally rapid growth in Dublin and in the other counties combined.
The positivity rate of tests is also rising rapidly, which is a sign of widespread transmission in the community, he said. Of grave concern for NPHET, he said, is that in the second wave in October there was a very long period of time where the disease was confined to young people, specifically those aged 19-24.
Two weeks ago, NPHET started to see the disease increasing in 19 to 24-year-olds and young adults again. But last week the disease incidence increased "very