James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

956. To ask the Minister for Health if wearing a face mask makes persons exempt from being classed as a face to face contact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18264/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) continues to examine all emerging evidence as it arises and provides advice relating to face coverings on an ongoing basis.

NPHET advises the wearing of a non-medical face covering in a number of circumstances which include:

- when on public transport

- when in indoor public areas including retail outlets

- by people visiting the homes of those who are cocooning

- by people who are being visited in their homes by those who are cocooning

- all visitors to residential care facilities and

- in indoor work environments where it is difficult to maintain a two-metre distance 

Individual judgement or preference should be used to consider the wearing of face coverings in other environments. 

Cloth face coverings are not recommended for children under the age of 13. This is because young children may not follow advice about wearing a mask correctly and avoiding touching it.

It is important to emphasise that the wearing of face coverings is an additional hygiene measure and should not take the place of good hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and other personal protective public health measures. Face coverings should be used properly, in line with the guidance and to wash hands before putting them on and taking them off.

Guidance issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre defines a close contact as:

- Any individual who has had greater than 15 minutes face-to-face (<2 meters distance) contact with a case, in any setting. (A distance of 1 metre is generally regarded as sufficient to minimize direct exposure to droplets however, for Public Health purposes, a close contact definition of 2 metres has been specified). 

- Household contacts defined as living or sleeping in the same home, individuals in shared accommodation sharing kitchen or bathroom facilities and sexual partners.  

- Healthcare workers, including laboratory workers, who have not worn appropriate PPE or had a breach in PPE during the following exposures to the case:  

- Direct contact with the case (as defined above), their body fluids or their laboratory specimen

- Present in the same room when an aerosol generating procedure is undertaken on thecase

- Passengers on an aircraft sitting within two seats (in any direction) of the case, travel companions or persons providing care, and crew members serving in the section of the aircraft where the index case was seated. (If severity of symptoms or movement of the case indicate more extensive exposure, passengers seated in the entire section or all passengers on the aircraft may be considered close contacts).

- For those contacts who have shared a closed space with a case for longer than two hours, a risk assessment should be undertaken taking into consideration the size of the room,  ventilation and the distance from the case. This may include office and school settings and any sort of large conveyance.

As I am sure the Deputy can appreciate, the evidence relating to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the discussion around face coverings, masks and shields is constantly evolving. I can assure you that the public health advice relating to Covid-19 is kept under continuing review by the NPHET.

The latest public health advice on face coverings is available at the following links and is updated on a regular basis: