Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue has been confirmed to have Covid 19.
All cabinet ministers are now restricting their movements as a result. A spokesperson says Minister McConalogue has no symptoms and is self isolating.
It comes as the HSE warns the risk posed by the virus is at its highest point to date.
Advertisement
Senior government official says Liz Canavan people planning to visit elderly relatives need to think twice.
HSE CEO Paul Reid says testing and tracing will continue throughout Christmas.
The Government says the decision to return to level 5 restrictions over Christmas was not taken lightly, but the increase in cases could not be ignored.
