Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2244. To ask the Minister for Health if Irish persons who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 while living in the UK can have this information recorded on an Irish digital passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37151/21]

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

The Digital COVID Certificate Regulation is intended to facilitate people’s fundamental right to move and reside freely and help to support the lifting of restrictions currently in place in a coordinated manner within the EU.

As the Minister for Health, I am supporting the work of my Department in collaborating with relevant Departments under the leadership of the Department of Taoiseach to assist in the on-going implementation of the EU Digital COVID Certificates.

Arrangements for provision of vaccination certificates to persons not vaccinated in Ireland will be considered once the initial roll-out is in place. There is no provision for the issuing of EU Digital COVID Certificates based on recovery to Irish persons who have been diagnosed in another jurisdiction.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2245. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the statement on the HSE website that there is currently no strong evidence to suggest that SARS-CoV-2 is spread through airborne transmission; and if he will ensure this advice is urgently corrected and updated. [37152/21]

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

As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2246. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure clear public health advice is provided about the importance of good ventilation to mitigate the spread of Covid-19; and if he will ensure that this message is included in all communications with the public. [37153/21]

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

It is well recognised that ventilation plays an important factor in reducing the risk of transmission indoors, where individuals may be in close contact, potentially for longer periods of time and in poorly ventilated areas. Building ventilation has remained one element of the broader infection prevention and control (IPC) response over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. The appreciation of the role of ventilation has evolved in the context of developing experience and evidence; guidance, training, and measures implemented reflects this learning. Ventilation, however, is just one aspect of a suite of control measures that work in tandem to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

The communication of Public Health Advice will continue to convey strong, clear messaging on the importance of vaccination, physical distancing, avoiding crowded and poorly ventilated spaces, face coverings, and maintaining good hand and respiratory hygiene.

I would draw the deputies attention to the already published information and guidance:

The Expert Group on Ventilation reports, agendas and meeting minutes are available on the gov.ie website: www.gov.ie/en/publication/aa43c-expert-group-on-the-role-of-ventilation-in-reducing-transmission-of-covid-19/#reports

Healthcare sector (HSE-AMRIC guidance):

- “Acute Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Precautions for Possible or Confirmed COVID-19 in a Pandemic Setting V.2.3 09.06.2021” www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/infectionpreventionandcontrolguidance/InfectionPreventionandControlPrecautionsforAcuteSettings.pdf

- “Interim Guidance on Infection Prevention and Control for the Health Service Executive 2021 V1.3. 11.01.2021” www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/infectionpreventionandcontrolguidance/hseinfectionpreventionandcontrolguidanceandframework/Interim%20HSE%20Guidance%20on%20IPC.pdf

- More generally, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has published Guidance on Non-Healthcare Building Ventilation during COVID-19. The Guidance provides broad recommendations, based on the literature, for commercial and public buildings: www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/infectionpreventionandcontrolguidance/buildingsandfacilitiesguidance/

It is the responsibility of individual Government Departments to provide sector-specific COVID-19 advice on ventilation as per their respective remits. For convenience I have also provided details of guidance published by other Departments and their agencies, questions related to any of the published guidance below should be directed to the appropriate Government Department:

- Education Sector

- www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/educationguidance/Guidance%20on%20non%20HCbuilding%20ventilation%20during%20COVID-19.pdf

- www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad236-guidance-on-ventilation-in-schools/

- Workplaces, Businesses (including hospitality), Retails Settings, and Shopping Centres:

- A revised Work Safely Protocol (previously the Return-to-Work Protocol) was published on 14th May 2021 as a collaborative effort , led by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and involving primarily the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), with significant input by public health from the Health Service Executive (HSE). The revised Protocol incorporates the current advice on the Public Health measures needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community and workplaces including enhanced detail on ventilation:

- www.gov.ie/en/publication/bb7fd-work-safely-protocol/

- www.nsai.ie/images/uploads/general/NSAI-COVID19-Retail-Guidelines-13012021.pdf

- /www.nsai.ie/images/uploads/general/NSAI-COVID19-Shopping-Centre-Guidelines-13012021.pdf

- Fáilte Ireland: Overview Guidelines to Reopening - failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Overview-Guidelines-to-Re-opening.pdf

- Fáilte Ireland: Guidelines for Reopening Restaurants and Cafes: failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Guidelines-for-Re-opening-Restaurants-and-Cafes.pdf

- Fáilte Ireland: Guidelines for Reopening Hotels and Guesthouses: failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Guidelines-for-Re-opening-Hotels-and-Guesthouses.pdf

- There is also additional guidance on Gov.ie and on the HSE website which outlines the importance of ventilation in households, this can be found here:

- www.gov.ie/en/publication/472f64-covid-19-coronavirus-guidance-and-advice/

- www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/how-coronavirus-is-spread.html

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2247. To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline the underlying assumptions in the NPHET models in respect of the hospitalisation projections for the delta variant under each of the four scenarios and the reason these are so different to the experience with delta in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37154/21]

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

The modelling scenarios begin with some basic assumptions on the effective level of close social contact and the increased transmissibility of the delta variant. The level of close social contact is assumed to increase either to the level seen in early summer 2020 (moderate social contact) or late summer 2020 (higher social contact). The transmissibility of the delta variant is uncertain, so the scenarios use conservative estimates (where the delta variant is 1.97 times more transmissible than the variants circulating in 2020, based on estimates from ECDC) or higher estimates (where delta is 2.4 times more transmissible, based on published UK estimates of the relative transmission advantages of the alpha and delta variants.

This gives four scenarios for transmission, levels of infection and case numbers: optimistic (moderate social contact, conservative transmission advantage for delta), central 1 (higher social contact, conservative transmission advantage for delta), central 2 (moderate social contact, higher transmission advantage for delta), and pessimistic (higher social contact, higher transmission advantage for delta).

We know that the widespread administration of vaccines means that there will be fewer infections, and that infections are less likely to lead to severe disease, hospitalisation and mortality. The models assume that the first dose of a vaccine is approximately 60% effective in preventing symptomatic infection with the alpha variant, and the second dose increases effectiveness in preventing symptomatic infection to 80-90%. Furthermore, one dose of vaccine is assumed to offer 70-85% protection against severe disease, hospitalisation and death due to infection with the alpha variant, with a second dose increasing vaccine effectiveness against severe disease to 90-95%.

Vaccines are known to be less effective in preventing symptomatic infection with delta, and this reduction in vaccine efficacy is taken into account in projecting the number of infections and cases in each scenario. However, the available evidence suggests that vaccines are equally effective in preventing severe disease with delta compared to alpha, and this is assumed to be the case in the models.

When all these factors are taken into account, on average per 1000 cases, the models project 15-25 hospitalisations, 2-3 admissions to ICU, and 2-4 deaths. These ratios are comparable to what is being seen in the UK and other jurisdictions.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2248. To ask the Minister for Health the guidance on ventilation provided to the hospitality industry in respect of mitigating the spread of Covid-19 in their premises, when this was last updated; the basis of this guidance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37155/21]

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

It is the responsibility of individual Government Departments to provide sector-specific COVID-19 advice on ventilation as per their respective remits. In this instance the provision of guidance for the hospitality sector is a matter for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and I suggest that the Deputy direct questions accordingly.

While it remains the responsibility of individual Government Departments to provide sector-specific COVID-19 advice on ventilation, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has published Guidance on Non-Healthcare Building Ventilation during COVID-19, that may be of interest to the Deputy more generally. The Guidance provides broad recommendations and information, based on the literature, for commercial and public buildings that may be used in the development of sector specific guidance: hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/infectionpreventionandcontrolguidance/buildingsandfacilitiesguidance/#d.en.20148

The reports of the Expert Group on the Role of Ventilation are also available to support the development of sector specific guidance by other Government departments:

gov.ie/en/publication/aa43c-expert-group-on-the-role-of-ventilation-in-reducing-transmission-of-covid-19/

For convenience I have also provided details of guidance published by other Departments and their agencies, questions related to any of the published guidance below should be directed to the appropriate Government Department:

- Education sector:

- hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/educationguidance/Guidance%20on%20non%20HCbuilding%20ventilation%20during%20COVID-19.pdf

- gov.ie/en/publication/ad236-guidance-on-ventilation-in-schools/

- Workplaces, Businesses (including hospitality), Retails Settings, and Shopping Centres:

- A revised Work Safely Protocol (previously the Return to Work Protocol) was published on 14th May 2021 as a collaborative effort between employers and employees, which was led by the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Health, with the support of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and with significant input by public health from the Health Service Executive (HSE). The revised Protocol incorporates the current advice on the Public Health measures needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community and workplaces including enhanced detail on ventilation: gov.ie/en/publication/bb7fd-work-safely-protocol/

- nsai.ie/images/uploads/general/NSAI-COVID19-Retail-Guidelines-13012021.pdf

- nsai.ie/images/uploads/general/NSAI-COVID19-Shopping-Centre-Guidelines-13012021.pdf

- Fáilte Ireland: Overview Guidelines to Reopening - failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Overview-Guidelines-to-Re-opening.pdf

- Fáilte Ireland: Guidelines for Reopening Restaurants and Cafes failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Guidelines-for-Re-opening-Restaurants-and-Cafes.pdf

- Fáilte Ireland: Guidelines for Reopening Hotels and Guesthouses - failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Guidelines-for-Re-opening-Hotels-and-Guesthouses.pdf

- There is also additional guidance on Gov.ie and on the HSE website which outlines the importance of ventilation in households, this can be found here:

- gov.ie/en/publication/472f64-covid-19-coronavirus-guidance-and-advice/

- www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/how-coronavirus-is-spread.html