Dr. Colm Henry:

As is well known, we faced a considerable shortage of PPE in this country. We were able to secure supply lines but in recognition of the particular risk in healthcare settings, it was introduced for healthcare workers. The WHO reflects this in its guidance, recognising the particular importance of providing and having a supply of masks for healthcare workers. Now that we have secured a more promising supply, we will have to factor in how much more we will need for particular at-risk groups in the community to make sure they feel safe and ensure they have access to those masks free of charge. It was a considerable effort for us as a country to secure the PPE we needed for healthcare workers in our hospitals and community system.