The country's health service faces 'a very difficult period' ahead, the HSE chief executive is warning.
Paul Reid says eliminating COVID-19 from Ireland would be ideal, but that isn't 'our reality' and therefore we must live with the virus.
Mr Reid will also tell today's Oireachtas COVID-19 committee that over 750,000 coronavirus tests have taken place here so far.
He is among the health officials set to attend today's committee hearing, which will look at the State's response to the recent spike in coronavirus cases.
Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn and Health Minister Stephen Donnelly are among the others set to attend.
Recent weeks have seen dozens of new COVID-19 cases reported each day, including 92 more confirmed yesterday.
Over 1,200 cases have been confirmed over the past two weeks, compared to just 264 during the same two weeks in July.
The spike has prompted a range of new restrictions, as well as the continuing local lockdown in Co Kildare.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, the committee's chair Michael McNamara said: "Getting an update on the HSE test and trace system is one of the areas the Committee will be focusing on when we hear from Paul Reid.
"We will be examining the localised lockdown of Laois and Offaly and the ongoing lockdown of Kildare and the medical and scientific basis for it, when we hear from Dr Ronan Glynn and Professor Philip Nolan."
He also welcomed the appearance of Minister Donnelly before the committee, saying it will give the committee an opportunity to look at plans for the wider health service as autumn and winter approach.
