John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are a week into the traditional flu season. Perhaps the Minster could follow up on that.

My final question may require a written answer. It comes down to essential and non-essential business. We cannot repeat what we have done previously when it comes to the next surge. There will be another surge, so I urge the Minister to keep the tracing numbers up and consistent. We should not make the mistake that was made over the summer of letting tracers go.

We must have data at this stage on how many cases arose in the large multiples and retails stores, including Super Valu and Tesco. What was the rate? What was the rate in non-essential stores? What about barbers, beauticians, hairdressers, hardware stores and furniture shops, etc.? Does NPHET have data on those? How do these figures feed in? We are going to have to be agile and flexible in terms of opening hours for barbers and hairdressers if we reach level 3 again. Perhaps barbers can open between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. if we want to reduce mobility or have people moving at different times. There must be data. There must also be data on the effectiveness of mask wearing. Is the Minister in a position to furnish the committee with any information on that?