Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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1756. To ask the Minister for Health if he will immediately reconsider easing restrictions on outdoor gatherings, outdoor activities and outdoor hospitality services in view of the recent data from the HSPC on the low incidence rates from outdoor gathering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18902/21]

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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1958. To ask the Minister for Health the considerations his Department is giving to easing restrictions on inter-household gatherings outdoors following recently published figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre showing significantly less transmission of Covid-19 in outdoor settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19429/21]

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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1959. To ask the Minister for Health the considerations his Department is giving to easing restrictions relating to businesses with outdoor facilities following recently published figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre showing significantly less transmission of Covid-19 in outdoor settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19430/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1756, 1958 and 1959 toegether.

NPHET has consistently advised that outdoor settings are considerably safer than indoor ones based on national and international evidence. This was a key informing principle in the development of the 5 level framework of public health measures last September and in the Government decision last month to commence the easing of some measures over April which are focused specifically on outdoor activities. As the Deputies will be aware, households have been permitted to meet with one other household outdoors for social or recreational purposes since the 12 April. From 19 April, adult inter-county GAA training can commence while from the 26 April, outdoor sports facilities and outdoor visitor attractions will reopen and underage non-contact outdoor training will also resume.

The situation will be subject to ongoing review taking account of the evolving epidemiological situation, the impact of the reopening of priority services, and available evidence in relation to vaccine deployment, uptake and effectiveness. The NPHET and the Government will consider the position again at the end of this month and it is anticipated that a roadmap for the further easing of measures over the coming months will be agreed.

It is important to note, however, that while outdoors is safer, it is not risk-free. It is important to continue to practice social distancing and other safe behaviours when meeting people outdoors and masks should be worn in crowded outdoor spaces.

HIQA undertook an evidence review on higher-risk environments and activities for the NPHET in November 2020, drawing on national and international evidence. The Review found that while there is consistent evidence that the risk of outdoor transmission of COVID-19 is substantially lower, there is still evidence of transmission occurring in outdoor environments. This is particularly the case when there are large gatherings, where social distancing or the use of face coverings are neglected, and where there is dense congregation and mixing among groups. There are also risks linked to what might precede and follow outdoor gatherings including associated events and activities and shared travel to or from events or activities. The review is available here.

(www.hiqa.ie/reports-and-publications/health-technology-assessment/activities-or-settings-associated-higher-risk.)

In relation to the data published by the HPSC, the HSE has clarified that this data is limited and will not reflect all cases associated with outside activities. Firstly, it only relates to outbreak data and it is not possible to link every case to a particular outbreak setting. A proportion of cases will also be considered community transmission or are under investigation when the source isn’t known. As such, the surveillance data would not capture all cases potentially associated with an outdoor environment/activity. Secondly, there may be outbreak settings that wouldn’t be considered as “outdoor” environments but where transmission amongst some cases associated with such outbreaks may have occurred outside (e.g. while congregating/socially interacting outside a building and not maintaining physical distancing etc.). Thirdly, there are indoor ancillary activities associated with outdoor activities as set out above (eg travel to/from activity, changing rooms etc.) that won’t be classified as linked to an outdoor event.