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The National Public Health Emergencies Team (NPHET) will meet today, amid concern about an increase in Covid-19 cases.
Medical director Dr. Tony Holohan said there were important indicators that the disease was moving in the wrong direction.
Restrictions on home visits and travel across the country will be eased tomorrow.
NPHET meets amid alarm over the situation in Northern Ireland, but also growing concern over the number of cases in the Republic.
The medical director said the average number of cases in five days had risen to 339, an increase of nearly 100 in one week.
Dr. Holohan said that international experience has shown how quickly the disease can spiral out of control.
Ireland was in a precarious situation, he said, due to the possible widespread mixing between households and intergenerationals over Christmas.
He urged people not to give Covid-19 a chance to spread.
Health authorities are asking people to limit their contacts, even as restrictions will be further lowered tomorrow, when three households will be able to meet indoors.
Despite hopes that vaccination will begin here before the end of the month, people have been warned against premature complacency, as the effects on the general population will not be seen until mid-2021.
The Taoiseach told the Dáil that the government would meet weekly and would not let the numbers get out of hand.
The Tánaiste has reportedly told members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party that the meeting restrictions are likely to remain in place for a few months.
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