A GP has said he expects 'at least 100 additional cases' of coronavirus to be reported here on Saturday.
It follows a technical issue that delayed the uploading of laboratory results to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) in recent days.
Dr Ray Walley is a member of the GP COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group.
He told Newstalk Breakfast with Susan Keogh that this will mean an increase in reported cases.
"My understanding is that there will be an addition of at least 100 on that addition to figures due to a technical glitch, which reflects figures that weren't added on up till Thursday evening."
Dr Walley said he has seen "a steady number of people" being referred to GPs, and a similar number of positive cases coming back to surgeries.
"We have made significant progress in the last number of weeks, especially reducing transmission in homes and communities.
"But the problem is it appears we're plateauing a week before we would have thought we would have plateaued."
'Go with your gut feeling'
He said this emphasises how important it is that people "not become complacent, not become comfortable" with the virus.
On the re-opening of pubs, restaurants and retail, Dr Walley said: "If you see somewhere you're going to go into if it looks unsafe, it is unsafe - go with your gut feeling.
"Making sure you do the simple measures like cough etiquette - however if you are sick you shouldn't be out and about".
On the re-opening, he said it was a gamble but that is why we have bodies like NPHET.
"I think so, but I think the job of NPHET and the doctors is to give advice, the job of Government is to govern - I think as long as we act responsibly we can do the right thing.
"For example in my own practice, we normally have a Christmas practice meal: we talked about it as a group and we decided not to do that.
"We'll postpone it, we'll do it at a later date when things are better."
"Ultimately the biggest way you can respect people and value people is by doing the right thing at the moment.
"But we need to show responsible behaviour in all of this, and watch over each other".
