Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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1033. To ask the Minister for Health the breakdown of new Covid-19 cases; the percentage of new cases with serious symptoms; the percentage of those new cases who have lost the sense of smell; the age breakdown and demographics for new cases in three-week intervals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18856/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Since the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) met for the first time, a commitment was given to collect and publish as much relevant data as possible while ensuring individual patient confidentiality is maintained at all times. While the nature and scale of the Covid-19 pandemic has been unprecedented, the collection of timely and comprehensive data has underpinned the efforts of the public health response to Covid-19 and has been instrumental in developing the health service response to Covid-19 and to the advice provided by NPHET and the Department of Health to assist Government decision-making in the wider response to Covid-19 in Ireland.

Comprehensive national statistics, information and data about Covid-19, including a timeline of confirmed cases by date, is published on a daily basis on the Department of Health website at www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-health/ and on the Covid-19 Data Hub and Dashboards available at . Datasets, charts and maps are updated on an on-going basis and in line with newly published data. The published data are based on official figures provided by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

A daily Epidemiology of COVID-19 in Ireland report is published by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) available at . This report provides comprehensive information relating to Covid-19 cases arising in Ireland. The HPSC also publishes reports on underlying conditions in confirmed cases of COVID-19 available at and reports relating to cases in healthcare workers available at .

I would also direct the Deputy to the CSO website for access to a range of data relating to Covid-19. This is available on the CSO Covid-19 Information Hub at www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-covid19/covid-19informationhub/health/. This includes a range of data reporting on demographic information including age breakdowns, locations and other relevant information of those affected by Covid-19. It is not possible to report on specific symptoms such as anosmia at the point in time of a Covid-19 test being performed, as testing is primarily a laboratory diagnostic process rather than indicative of the symptoms that prompted a GP or other relevant health practitioner to refer a patient for a test.

The Deputy may wish to note that the data published to date is made available in a timely and comprehensive manner to inform the Department and wider Government response but also to ensure the public are kept informed to the greatest extent possible. There is also ongoing collaboration between my Department, the HPSC, the HSE, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, the CSO, Ordnance Survey Ireland and many other institutions and agencies to improve the data collected and the availability of it on an ongoing basis. I would like to assure the Deputy of my Department's ongoing commitment to publish as much Covid-19 data on an ongoing basis as is practicable, relevant and appropriate.

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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1034. To ask the Minister for Health the stage of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business in which it is envisaged groups of more than 50 persons will be able to attend indoor religious and spiritual gatherings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18857/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, on 19 June 2020, the then Taoiseach, on behalf of the Government, announced the restrictions that would be eased and the measures that will be in place in Phase 3 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business. On Thursday 25 June the Government confirmed the move to Phase 3 of the Roadmap from Monday, 29 June 2020. Information and advice about the restrictions that have been eased as part of Phase 3 and the measures that are now in place are available on the Government website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/d06271-easing-the-covid-19-restrictions-on-29-june-phase-3/.

Gatherings of 50 people (indoor) and 200 people (outdoor) are permissible in line with the public health guidance on mass gatherings, which is also available on the Government website at www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/77452/39d51b02-5633-4e2f-a070-4551a3521081.pdf#page=6. The limits will increase to 100 (indoors) and 500 (outdoors) in phase 4.  This will be subject to continued progressive improvements in the health indicators identified in the Framework for Future Decision-Making described in the Roadmap.

As the Deputy is aware, religious buildings and places of worship may also now be reopened, in line with public health guidelines. The Government has exempted places of worship from the regulations restricting numbers on mass gatherings. The exemption applies to places of worship only and not to any gatherings that may take place after the religious ceremony such as wedding receptions. 

Detailed Covid-19 Guidance has been developed for religious services. The Cabinet Committee reviewed the guidance, which state that an assessment should be carried out for each premises to determine how many can attend within the requirements of social distancing. 

The Cabinet Committee decided that where the size of the premises allows for a capacity of greater than 50 this may be permitted only where:

- Social distancing guidelines are adhered to

- The premises can be subdivided into distinct sections (cordoned or marked appropriately) of not more than 50 persons in each section

- There is a minimum of 4m between sections

- Each section has its own entrance/exit route

- There are separate arrangements for elements of the service involving close contact, e.g. the distribution of Holy Communion

- Strictly no movement of people between sections before, during or after the service

- The premises is well-ventilated.

Account must also be taken regarding the risk of congregation by people outside before and after any services, having regard to outdoor overall limits on mass gatherings and arrangements for staggered exiting after ceremonies

The use of face coverings is strongly recommended for such indoor settings.