Rising numbers of COVID-19 cases show that earlier public health measures did work in repressing the virus.
That's according to Dr Denis McCauley, chairman of the Irish Medical Organisation's GP Committee.
He was speaking as coronavirus begins to surge again - with 1,175 people hospitalised with the virus.
That is the highest number since February of last year.
Dr McCauley told Pat Kenny we should be wearing masks to protect each other.
"It just shows the public health measures did work.
"The fact that we're dealing with a very infectious virus, that as soon as we take away the public health measures the rates start to go up significantly.
"So the public health measures work, we know that now - we've always known it, but we know it well".
'Be mannerly and wear a mask'
He says the question of mask wearing should now be between 'mandatory and manners'.
"Manners should really extend that - I think we should realise that... we are free, we're relatively free now.
"But I think we should respect those around us: if we're in an area where there are a number of people, that is crowded - particularly indoors - even outdoors, you should consider wearing a mask.
"I always sort of said 'until the end of March' anyway - but I think until we see the numbers beginning to go down".
He adds: "We think we should get through this, but we would ask that everybody should be mannerly and wear a mask until at least the numbers begin to go down significantly.
"The last thing we want is for public health measures to be changed again - I think we know what to do and I think it's just matter of reminding ourselves".
Dr McCauley says while infections are not turning into severe illness, cases are rising.
"We are seeing an awful lot of people with COVID infections - the vast majority of them are mild illnesses.
"Some people are getting quite sick, but not an awful lot of people are getting ill.
"That said - the actual amount that we're seeing... in the last week, the number of COVID infections has increased by 50%.
"And the amount of hospital admissions have gone up 30%.
"The ICU numbers have always been in the background - saying they are static - they've been resistant, they've been sort of going down.
"But over the last few days everyone noticed they've begun to go up again".
And he says a two-week delay on figures means numbers will continue to climb.
"So at the present minute we're in a holding position, resistant amount of infections.
"Numbers are now going up because of socialisation, and the numbers in ICU might be beginning to go up also".
