Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1464. To ask the Minister for Health the number of follow-up calls made to incoming passengers on a weekly basis from 5 October 2020; and the number of calls which were successfully answered on a weekly basis, in tabular form [33893/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Passenger Locator Form was launched in an online format in August and supports an enhanced system of engagements with arriving passengers, including the targeting of key public health messages via SMS.

Passengers may be contacted by SMS or phone call to verify their address in Ireland. Contacts of this type are targeted towards passengers arriving from locations with higher incidence rates. Multiple attempts will be made to phone a passenger if the contact center cannot make contact at the first attempt.

The number of follow-up calls attempted to incoming passengers on a weekly basis from 5 October 2020 and the number of successful contacts made with incoming passengers by phone in the same period can be seen in the following table.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1465. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to the physical and mental health benefits of allowing gyms to remain open during the current Covid-19 restrictions; if he plans to review the measure; and the reason for closing gyms which could operate while enforcing social distancing and infection prevention and control guidance [33896/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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At the outset I would like to say that I fully understand how important exercise and sporting activities are for people's physical and mental health, particularly in the winter months.

The Government's medium-term strategy Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19, sets out Ireland's approach to managing and living with COVID-19 in a range of areas over the next 6 - 9 months.

The Plan sets out five levels of response, each with a number of measures designed to help us all lower COVID-19 transmission and setting out what is permitted at that moment in time. It aims to allow society and businesses to be able to operate as normally as possible, while continuing to suppress the virus. Each level outlines what is permitted for social or family gatherings, work and public transport, bars, hotels and restaurants, exercise activities and religious services.

The Plan reflects a careful consideration of the impact of the introduction of restrictions on employment and livelihoods, keeping as many businesses open as possible at different stages, while acknowledging that some businesses and services are critical. It acknowledges that sports and exercise are central to our well-being and are also the world of work for our many in our communities.

As I'm sure you can appreciate, COVID-19 spreads when individuals and groups come into close contact with one another, enabling the virus to move from one person to another. COVID-19 is infectious in a person with no symptoms, or for the period of time before they develop symptoms.

You will be aware that in response to the rapidly deteriorating epidemiological situation across the country, Ireland has moved to level 5 of Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19. This means closing many businesses and amenities to reduce the person-to-person contacts which allow the virus to spread.

At level 5, gyms and leisure centres are closed and no exercise or dance classes are permitted. Individual training only is allowed and people must exercise within 5km of home. It is possible to meet with 1 other household in an outdoor setting which is not a home or garden, such as a park, including for the purpose of exercise.

The Government recognises that there are many aspects of normal life that have been altered by the emergence of COVID-19, and the response that has been required. It also recognises that these changes are difficult for many people. However, it is the case at present that many of the things which we have previously taken for granted - such as exercising in gyms, but also eating out, attending church, travelling abroad freely - are no longer accessible in the same way due to the risks that they pose and the ease with which this virus spreads in particular conditions.

The Government's guidelines for indoor gatherings and exercise and sporting events at all levels of the Plan are available at: . Level 5 guidance from Sport Ireland is available at: .