Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change) | Oireachtas source

Hospitals are coming under major pressure because of the number of Covid-19 patients in hospital beds. There were 1,395 such patients yesterday. That figure is up 29% in the past seven days. There are 55 patients ICU, up from 44 a week ago. Yesterday, 22,000 positive polymerase chain reaction, PCR, and antigen tests were registered. Anne O’Connor, chief operations officer with the HSE, has stated that 5,200 staff are absent due to Covid and that the number of teams available in hospitals is falling and that elective surgeries are being cancelled.

We need to look at the whole question of wearing masks again on travel on public transport, in retail shops, etc. We also need to consider a return to mandatory mask-wearing. There does not seem to be anybody directing the Government at the moment in the context of public health measures. I ask the Minister to seriously consider this suggestion. Many people in the Chamber should also consider wearing masks and respect others.

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