Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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279. To ask the Minister for Health the position on the benefit of wearing masks to prevent the spread of Covid-19, including the latest international data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43613/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The public health advice relating to COVID-19, including for face coverings, is kept under continuous review by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), by my Department and the Government. The NPHET reviews international developments as a component of their overall examination of the evolving epidemiology of the COVID-19 and are informed by the international scientific evidence, and guidance by international bodies including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). WHO and ECDC guidance is formulated in the context of considered appraisal of the international experience and accumulating scientific evidence in relation to COVID-19.

The aim of face coverings is to reduce the spread of infection by acting as a source control to stop the spread of infection by the person wearing the covering (including those who do not know they are infected, such as those with no symptoms) or to protect the wearer from droplet splashes or inhaling airborne contaminants including small (aerosol) and large particle droplets.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the advice we are giving is that the use of face covering by persons going out in public has been recommended by an increasing number of countries. In Ireland, cloth face coverings are recommended in situations where physical distancing may not be possible, in crowded workplaces, places of worship and in busy or crowded outdoor spaces where there is significant congregation. Face coverings are also mandatory on public transport, including in taxis, as well as in bus and rail stations and in shops and other retail outlets. In restaurants, you should wear a face covering on your way to and from your table.

The wearing of face coverings is also recommended when visiting the homes of those who are over 70 years of age or who are medically vulnerable, by people who are being visited in their homes by those who are over 70 years of age who are medically vulnerable, and if you are travelling in a vehicle with someone you don't live with.

The relevant regulations in relation to face coverings are outlined below and can be viewed at:-

- Health Act 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary Restrictions) (Covid19) (Face Coverings on Public Transport) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 512/2020)

- Health Act 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary Restrictions) (Covid19) (Face Coverings in certain premises and businesses) Regulations 2020 (S.I No. 511/2020)

- Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (Face Coverings in Small Public Service Vehicles and Certain Premises) Regulations 2020 S.I. (No. 569 of 2020)

- Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (Face Coverings in Certain Premises and Businesses) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 571 of 2020)

To inform national efforts in response to COVID-19, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is developing Health Technology Assessment evidence summaries to answer specific research questions posed by the NPHET. For your information, the HIQA evidence summaries on various topics, including on the use of face masks in the community is available at:- An updated version of the HIQA evidence summary was presented to NPHET at its meeting on December 10^thand will be published shortly.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has also published a range of guidance documents, including guidance of the use of face coverings, which are available at the following link:-

The current advice regarding face coverings, including the circumstances in which it is mandatory to wear a face covering, is available at and.