People are being urged to stay home if they have any flu-like symptoms, amid a rise in COVID-19 cases.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Breda Smyth has said test positivity is now almost one in five, and on average there are 75 new hospitalisations per day with COVID.
GP Dr Ilona Duffy told Newstalk Breakfast they have noticed the increase.
"COVID has never gone away and we've always seen patients presenting with it, or reporting positive home tests to us," she said.
"Definitely in the last week to two weeks, we're seeing a rise in the numbers that are ringing us reporting positive tests.
"Those, perhaps, who are contacting us that we're suspicious may have it - and asking them to COVID test before seeing us.
"What we're seeing is really fitting with a little bit what Professor Smyth is reporting: this rise in COVID presentations".
Hospitalisations
Dr Duffy said the only measure they really have now is hospitalisations.
"We know that the concern to Prof Breda Smyth was the rise in hospitalisations with COVID," she said.
"We know that over 600 people who are hospitalised at the moment are COVID positive.
"We also know that approximately 250 with influenza, and also a large number of children with RSV.
"The viruses are there, and some of the normal viruses you expect, definitely flu starting to rise.
"We haven't seen a real flu outbreak since the onset of COVID because of people isolating and then wearing masks.
"So it's to be expected."
Strep A
She said younger are children are also facing the challenge of Strep A.
"We're still feeling that there isn't a rapid rise in the numbers compared to pre-COVID, but I think that's the big issue.
"We're seeing things we haven't seen in almost three years.
"We're seeing presentations now that people nearly have forgotten how to manage, especially with some of our children.
"Reminding people what to do, and undertheweather.ie is such a wonderful resource for everybody to know how to manage the simple things and when to contact your GP," she added.
