A leading public health expert is urging people not to go on holidays at home or abroad until the coronavirus is back under control.

It comes after 85 new cases of the virus were announced last night – the highest number since late May.

The acting chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said it was too early to say whether the high figure was a “blip” or part of a new trend.

At least 18 of the cases were part of an outbreak at a factory in Naas in County Kildare. Dr Glynn said it was good news that the cases had been identified and expressed hope the number of cases would drop in the coming days.

On Breakfast Briefing with Andrea Gilligan this morning, DCU Professor Anthony Staines said people should not be going on holidays – even within Ireland – until the virus is under control.

“We are going to need to take some serious steps – particularly about wearing mask; particularly around asking people not to travel from their areas,” he said.

“We want to try and keep this infection confined. What is happening at the moment is we are getting new cases popping up all over the place and some of these cases are being driven by people going on holidays.

“We really need to say to people stay where you are until we bring this under control.”

He said businesses could remain open even if people were asked to remain within their own areas.

He expressed hope the country was not at the start of a second wave and said everyone can do their part to prevent one.

“It is down to us whether it happens or not because this is being driven by what we are doing,” he said.

“It is being driven by wearing masks; it is being driven by social distancing, it is being driven largely by our behaviours.

“There are very few cases being imported through foreign travel – although there are some. Most of these cases are homegrown.”

He said lockdown was an “emergency response” and he does not expect to see another one imposed. He said businesses could remain open even if people were asked to remain within their own areas.