The National Public Health Emergency Team has agreed that the requirement to wear masks should be terminated in most areas currently regulated.
If approved by the government, mandatory mask wearing will no longer apply to schools, public transport, taxis, retail stores, and government offices.
It also no longer applies to staff who play a customer-facing role, such as restaurants and pubs.
However, in medical environments such as hospitals and nursing homes, masking is still necessary given the nature of these environments and the continued outbreak of Covid-19 in some environments.
NPHET’s recommendations are given to the government in a letter from Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tony Holohan.
Following today’s NPHET meeting, it reviewed the overall status of Covid-19, vaccination intake levels, and existing mask wearing rules.
Dr. Holohan also recommended that the Minister of Health evict NPHET and replace it with a smaller surveillance group.
The Cabinet seems to make a decision on NPHET’s recommendations for masks and testing next Tuesday. The government’s broad view that the changes will be agreed quickly next week without the need for extensive discussion.
— Michelle Lehane (@MichealLehane) February 17, 2022
NPHET also recommends modifying the HSE Covid-19 test system.
It will be more concentrated on people in their early 50s and above, as well as vulnerable people.
Those who have been vaccinated and are considered to have close contact no longer need to undergo a PCR test. This reduces the demand for the system.
The general advice is for people with Covid-19 symptoms to self-isolate until they get better.
Today, the Ministry of Health has been notified of an additional 5,035 cases of Covid-19 confirmed by PCR.
In addition, an additional 4,406 positive antigen tests have been recorded through the HSE portal.
The number of people hospitalized for the virus is 639, an increase of 8 from yesterday.
The number of people being treated in the ICU is currently 58, down four from Wednesday.
In Northern Ireland, another person who previously tested positive for Covid-19 died, the Ministry of Health said.
During the last 24 hours of reporting, an additional 3,027 confirmed viral cases were also notified.
This morning, 443 Covid-19 patients were hospitalized, 11 of whom were in the intensive care unit.
Earlier, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said he wanted to be able to “immediately” finish wearing mandatory masks at schools, retail stores and public transport.
The Greens leader told Dáil that this is his personal view and is waiting to hear the advice NPHET offers.
Asked about the NPHET meeting by Labor leader Alan Kelly, Green Party leader Amon Ryan says “immediately” the mandatory wearing of masks at schools, retail stores and public transport. He said he wanted that. Read more: https: //t.co/u2oDjM3RAd pic.twitter.com/RUnlkgDSBJ
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) February 17, 2022
Infectious disease consultants said they “very strongly suggest” that people continue to wear masks.
Regarding RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Dr. Cliona Ní Cheallaigh said the government is discussing obligations. This is different from wearing a mask depending on the choice, he said, recommending people if they want to avoid Covid-19 infection.
“There are so many Covids in fashion yet, so if you don’t want to get them, it’s highly recommended that you keep wearing the mask,” she said.
She unfortunately said the vaccine was “never 100%”.
Dr. Ní Cheallaigh said the recent high number of cases is likely due to people with a weakened immune system being infected with Covid-19.
“People whose immune system doesn’t work at all. Unfortunately, they’re still really, really sick, dying in Covid, and they’re exposed because it’s circulating a lot,” she said. Said.
Dr. Ní Cheallaigh said pregnant women are particularly susceptible to infections.
“If there’s one group I really recommend vaccination for, it’s a pregnant female. Pregnant females don’t go well with Covid, so they still end up in the intensive care unit, and sometimes the baby … is dying. The pregnancy you know is not. “It’s very difficult to reach a term.”
Dermot O’Leary, General Secretary of the National Bus and Rail Coalition, said members have already expressed a lot of concern about the possibility of changing masking obligations on public transport.
O’Leary said it would be nice if the move could be postponed until the end of March, when coughing and colds are lessened.
Additional Report Paul Cunningham
