Dr. David Nabarro:

As I answer questions I have the WHO guidance in the back of my mind, but I am always trying to interpret it, hopefully, within the context of Ireland as a country. That means I have to make assumptions. I have to be brief as well, so please forgive me if at times I appear not quite to tune in with the underlying purpose of the questions.

Right at the centre - I think Deputy Shortall got this in the way she asked the question - I want to emphasise that it is not the case that one single measure will keep the people of Ireland safe. It is about having a comprehensive strategy that seeks to reduce the risk of transmission while at the same time ensuring that if outbreaks do build up, they are nipped in the bud really fast. Moreover, we must ensure special protection for the communities seen to be at particular risk. Now, face protections are a part of that comprehensive strategy. There are two sides to it. One is protecting people from being infected, like healthcare workers or people in other highly exposed situations. Sophisticated filtration masks, such as the N95 or FFP masks, stick over the mouth and the wearer looks like he has a funny beak on his face. They are very useful but they should be preserved. That is why there has been a move to advocate the use of cloth masks, including perhaps homemade cloth masks for people who want to try to be responsible citizens and protect others. The WHO has come out with guidance suggesting a three-layered mask that is quite complicated. Others are saying that all we need is multiple layers of ordinary cotton, but perhaps five or six layers rather than one or two layers. Others again are saying that it does not really matter once people have enough protection so that they are reducing the risk. My view is somewhere in the middle. I think there is a role for multiple layers. I do not think they need to be made of special cloth. What is really important is not so much how the mask is made but how it is worn, ensuring there are no gaps and absolutely ensuring that wearers do not believe a mask is working if it is worn under the nose - that is really unhelpful. Right at the centre of this is the point that people must not imagine that simply because they are wearing a mask they are at low risk or they are protecting other people. Masks must be part of a comprehensive strategy that includes physical distancing.

With physical distancing, it is a question of risk. If a person is 1 m in front of another person who is coughing, the first person has perhaps a certain risk of being infected that is a bit less than if he or she was really close to the coughing person. If a person is 2 m away from the coughing person then the risk is further reduced. Based on various data we usually say that a person has a 60% reduction at 1 m and something like a 90% or 95% reduction at 2 m. Various people are using different risk figures. In any situation there is balance of risk.

On the one hand, one wants to make sure that the necessary parts of the economy can be kept going while on the other hand, one wants to try to reduce the risk. All this is done within context. If there is a lot virus around, then the physical distancing becomes really important. If there is not much virus around, then it becomes less so. I am basically saying please be at least 1 m apart, and if you can be 2 m apart then that is a really good thing to do. Remember, there are certain actions like singing which seem to be associated with even greater transmission so people should be especially careful.