The Government is to meet the chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, today to discuss NPHET's recommendation that the entire country be moved to level 5 restrictions.

It emerged on Sunday night that NPHET has recommended that the country be placed under the most severe restrictions available, similar to the lockdown that was in place at the start of the COVID-19 crisis.

The Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, the Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar, and Green party leader, Eamon Ryan, are set to met Dr Holohan today to discuss the issue. A final decision would be made by Cabinet. The next Cabinet meeting is due to take place on Tuesday.

The CEO of the HSE, Paul Reid, said that there are "obvious concerns" about COVID trends

"But we also know the impacts of severe and regular restrictions in society on the public health, wellbeing, mental health and the economy. Level 5 recommendation to Government has to be considered in this context too," he said in a tweet.

Under level 5, there would be no visitors allowed to any home and no social or family gatherings of any kind. The number of people who could attend weddings would be reduced to six, while just 10 people could attend a funeral.

In sport, no team training would take place, no matches or sporting events would take place, and gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools would be closed.

All bars, cafes, and restaurants, including hotel bars and restaurants, would be closed other than for take away food or delivery. Wet pubs would be take away or delivery only.

Hotels would only be open for essential non-social, non-tourist purposes, while only essential retail would be open.

Everyone would be encouraged to work from home unless working in an essential service, such as healthcare, and people would be asked to stay at home and exercise within five kilometres of their home.

Schools and creches would remain open.

Dublin and Donegal are currently at level 3 of the Government's COVID-19 plan, while the rest of the country is at level 2. For more information on the different levels, click here.